Jurgen Klopp has praised Chelsea after the 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Saturday afternoon. The game ended as a stalemate with both sides struggling to find quality across the pitch, leaving last season's second and third placed teams in eighth and 10th, respectively.
It was a battle of two struggling sides, with the lack of midfield investment in both camps being an obvious point of comparison throughout the match. Klopp and his opposition number Graham Potter both chose to go with teenagers in the centre of the park but partnered them with players over 30 too.
It is no surprise, therefore, that Chelsea and Liverpool have conducted some of the most high-profile business this month. Outside of the unprecedented spend under Todd Boehly in the winter window, Liverpool's signing of Cody Gakpo is the biggest deal to be done. The Dutch international played at Anfield against Chelsea but struggled to make the desired impact.
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With Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk coming to Stamford bridge, it would have been easy to forget about Benoit Badiashile but he has arguably been the best of the new signings so far. In his two appearances he has helped his side keep two clean sheets and is already forming a solid relationship with Thiago Silva.
Liverpool's defensive issues haven't been solved with transfers though and no replacement has been bought in for Virgil van Dijk. Elsewhere, the Reds are still short in midfield and attack due to injuries, something Potter can sympathise with. When asked about the Blues' transfer spending before the game, Klopp offered an interesting analysis of the two clubs.
"Chelsea sort problems differently to us, so let's see," he said. Reading between the lines it would be easy to say that Klopp is effectively taking aim at Chelsea's spending and their use of finances under Todd Boehly. When the numbers were put to him he said: "I can't explain it [the spending], I have no idea.
"But if the numbers are true then it's impressive...I am not sure Chelsea can do that for the next 10 years though." He is right on this point, as Boehly and Co don't plan on spending to this extent consistently, just until they have a squad they consider to be their own. Righting the perceived wrongs of the past five years.
What Klopp can already see is how that will be a force to reckon with. "Usually a point against Chelsea is not bad. It's not a bad result," he explained. "I sit here and feel like it's okay but you all seem to think 'how can you not win against them?'
"They will win a lot of games I can promise you and today they didn't, which is good for us."
Chelsea, like Liverpool, may have sensed the chance to get one over their rivals, taking advantage of the other's plight. The draw doesn't suit either team but also wasn't the worst result possible. For Potter and his men it has to be the start of something though, and that's what Klopp can see coming.
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