Enzo Maresca has revealed how heavily his footballing philosophy was influenced by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, having watched 38 of their games in a single week when he first started coaching.
Chelsea’s head coach was inspired enough to want to create his own style which he will take to Anfield for a Sunday afternoon showdown with a side now managed by Arne Slot.
Maresca has told Cole Palmer he could learn from Mohamed Salah, whose hard work in and out of possession was noticeable when studying those 38 matches under Klopp.
Speaking ahead of facing Liverpool, Maresca said: ‘Four or five years ago when I finished playing and started as a manager, I watched 38 games of Liverpool in one week – to study and to analyse how they were with the previous manager.
‘I really know Liverpool players because I watched them many, many, many times. That team, the first one, two, three years of Klopp, the way they were pressing was especially good because of Salah, (Roberto) Firmino and (Sadio) Mane. So it is not only about on the ball.
Enzo Maresca revealed that he once watched Liverpool play 38 times in a week under Jurgen Klopp
Klopp left the Anfield club at the end of last season bringing a close to one of the most successful spells in the Reds' history
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‘It was off the ball, the way they were aggressive was something unbelievable. I really like Salah, not only because he is good on the ball but because he is a fantastic player also off the ball.
‘He has been one of the best players in the last five, six, seven years. Cole is doing that for us in the last year and also now and hopefully he can do it for the next five, 10 years with us.
‘We have many quality players but unfortunately in football, I don’t think talent is enough. We need more. It’s not only about Cole, it’s about all the attacking players.
‘You see Noni (Madueke), how he is pressing forward, running back, he is doing very good. Today in football it is not enough if you are good on the ball.’
Maresca once faced Salah as a player with the Egyptian scoring twice in a 5-0 win for Roma over Palermo in February 2016 but he could not recall it. Reminded that he was a substitute, Maresca added: ‘This is the reason why I don’t remember!
‘They (Liverpool) use Salah in all the moments. From the goalkeeper to Salah. From Virgil van Dijk to Salah. From Alexis Mac Allister to Salah. He is probably the main player for them.’