Inside Chelsea and Liverpool rivalry after managers involved in touchline fight

Chelsea and Liverpool's modern-day rivalry was summed up by Frank Lampard's row with Jurgen Klopp in 2020. The two sides are set to add the latest chapter this weekend as Chelsea prepare to host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The feud initially began due to the club's frequent meetings in the early 2000s, with Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez's sides continually clashing in cup competitions. Lampard was a key player for the Blues during that era, and those old tensions resurfaced during his first stint as Chelsea boss.

Chelsea found themselves on the wrong side of a 5-3 defeat at Anfield in July 2020, ahead of Klopp's team lifting the Premier League trophy. Despite the penultimate match of the season being a celebratory occasion for the home side, Chelsea were still chasing a Champions League spot, and Lampard took exception to Matteo Kovacic being booked for a foul on Sadio Mane in the first half, with the scoreline still at 1-0.

The Chelsea manager fired a dig at Klopp and other members of Liverpool's backroom staff in an X-rated rant as a touchline spat ensued. Unfortunately for Chelsea, Trent Alexander-Arnold scored from the resulting free-kick to double Liverpool's lead. Following the incident, Lampard apologised for his language and looked to dismiss suggestions of lingering resentment.

"I've seen the video, I was there. In terms of language used, I regret it because I've got two young daughters on social media," the Chelsea boss said. "In terms of passion to defend my team? No.

"I could have handled it differently but some of the reports were I was upset with the celebrations. Far from it. They can celebrate like every goal.

“I'd have had a beer with Jurgen Klopp after the game, but there were things on the bench, not from Klopp, that I felt crossed a line. I regret the languag,e but we'll move on."

While Lampard felt that some Liverpool coaches had gone too far, Klopp accused his opposite number of overstepping the mark. "You cannot hit me with something like that. We are not arrogant," Klopp said. "Frank was in competitive mood, I respect that. Say what you want in that situation, pure emotion, he came to win.

"But what he has to learn is speaking about that after the game when the whistle has gone is not OK. Final whistle, as a real sportsperson... close the book and he didn't do that and that is what I don't like, honestly. I only speak now because he spoke afterwards."

However, the German coach insisted the spat hadn't impacted his team's title celebrations. "I was angry during the game and my plan was not to be angry," he admitted. "I was really…I had a fight with Frank Lampard stuff like this. We don’t plan this it’s just we are in the game and 5-3 is a perfect result to be honest."

Chelsea had salvaged a goal through Olivier Giroud to go in 3-1 down at the interval. In the second half, the Blues pushed for a comeback, as goals from Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic brought the scoreline to 4-3, but the result was settled by Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

In subsequent years, the two clubs have met in three domestic cup finals, which have all ended in heartbreak for the Blues. Both the 2022 League Cup and FA Cup finals finished goalless and were won by Liverpool on penalties. Most recently, the 2024 Carabao Cup final was decided by a late Virgil van Dijk goal in extra time.

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