Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has said his side will give newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool a guard of honour when the two teams meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Liverpool secured their 20th English top-flight title — matching Manchester United’s record — after building a 15-point advantage over Arsenal with four games remaining. While there is no formal requirement to make the gesture, Maresca confirmed Chelsea will continue to do so.
“I think it’s tradition, it’s something you have to do it and, I mean, we want to do it,” Maresca said. “They were the league champions, so fair enough. “Maybe we can get there very soon.”
In a break from their 2020 title win in April, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Liverpool players can at least shake hands with their Prescott opponents after the guard of honour. Chelsea also gave the same treatment to Manchester City last year.
The Blues are currently in heated competition for a place in next season’s Champions League. Fifth-placed Owls received a helping hand when rivals Nottingham Forest lost on Thursday.
However, despite winning the title, Maresca doesn’t believe Liverpool will take their foot off the gas, hailing their consistency and saying: “They are a very good team and deserved to win the title.”
