Away from the legends game, news broke earlier today that Ibrahima Konate has pulled out the France squad.
The centre-back has a right quadriceps injury and has been receiving “treatment and following protocol” since joining up with his international team-mates.
Kalou’s new venture
Salomon Kalou has a surprising way of keeping busy in retirement.
The Ivory Coast star played in the match today, which means he had some time off from running his chocolate company Oume.
Kalou hopes to see it on the shelves of UK shops soon.
Garden of Eden
Roberto Di Matteo was delighted to be reunited with icon Eden Hazard this afternoon.
The former boss said: “He was a special player. I think from the first minute he wore the Chelsea shirt, everybody fell in love with him.
“You could see the talent he had, even though he was only 19 back then.
“He showed his capabilities and his qualities over the years and had a very successful stint here with us.
“Thank you to him that he came today and showed again some of his qualities.
“I think the people absolutely loved seeing him on the pitch for Chelsea today.”
‘Connected for life’
Roberto Di Matteo spoke about his iconic Chelsea squad which won the 2012 Champions League as he returned to the dugout today.
Di Matteo said: “When you win a competition, a trophy, it connects you for the rest of your life.
“Every time we get together, it’s a great feeling and a lot of emotions to see these players again that managed to lift the trophy with the big ears!
“They always turn up when we call them for these sort of games.
“They love to come back and put the blue shirt on.
“We’ve created a lot of memories for the players and for the supporters as well.
“Overall, it’s a wonderful day today to see all these guys again. I wish them all good health.”
Friends again?
Diego Costa has just took to Instagram to post this snap alongside his rival Martin Skrtel.
The tough guys appear to be mates… for now!
Hazard’s return
Fans were delighted to see Eden Hazard glide across the pitch one again.”
One supporter said: “Eden Hazard is not just a footballer, he’s an entertainer!”
A second reacted: “Hazard strolling around on the Stamford Bridge turf. I’m not crying, you are.”
A third wrote: “He’s been superb, Diego Costa has been a menace to the Liverpool back line….these guys still got it in them.”
The sun is shining and planes are flying over the place that so many of these legends would still call home.
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have come out on the pitch with the rest of the squad for a team photo, and Petr Cech even stays to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
That’s what it’s all about!
Liverpool squad
Former Blue Yossi Benayoun will be returning to Stamford Bridge, but in the red of Liverpool.
The club’s all-time top scorer, Ian Rush, will return in the dugout, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch not included in this one:
Ian Rush – manager
John Aldridge – manager
Phil Thompson – manager
Sammy Lee – manager
Pepe Reina
Sander Westerveld
Fabio Aurelio
Martin Kelly
Ragnar Klavan
Martin Skrtel
Yossi Benayoun
Momo Sissoko
Jay Spearing
Ryan Babel
Natasha Dowie
Robbie Keane
Gregory Vignal
Igor Biscan
Stephane Henchoz
Mark Gonzalez
Florent Siname-Pongolle
Chelsea squad
Roberto Di Matteo, the man who guided Chelsea to their first Champions League title in 2011/12, will return to the dugout as manager.
Five-time Premier League-winning captain John Terry will also be back for action.
Fan favourites at Stamford Bridge like Joe Cole, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa will also return:
Eden Hazard
Ramires
John Terry
Joe Cole
Katie Chapman
Gemma Davison
William Gallas
Carlo Cudicini
Marcel Desailly
Petr Cech
Eidur Gudjohnsen
Salomon Kalou
Diego Costa
Jon Harley
Jody Morris
Loic Remy
Florent Malouda
Tiago Mendes
Claude Makelele
John-Obi Mikel
Gary Cahill
*Gianfranco Zola has withdrawn due to injury
Good afternoon and welcome to SunSport’s live blog of Chelsea vs Liverpool legends!
A star-studded Chelsea line-up will be looking to get revenge on Liverpool after losing the previous legends clash between the two in March.
Peter Crouch bagged a double in a 2-0 win for the Reds last time out, but the legendary forward will not be playing in today’s match – to the delight of Chelsea.
Roberto Di Matteo returns to the Stamford Bridge dugout while the likes of Eden Hazard, John Terry and Diego Costa will pull on the iconic Blue shirt once again.
Robbie Keane, Martin Skrtel and Ryan Babel are among the legends representing Liverpool in the capital this afternoon.
SunSport will bring you minute-by-minute updates from this afternoon’s huge clash!
ATLETICO MADRID boss Diego Simeone has escaped with a one-match ban for his Anfield Champions League red card.
Argentine Simeone was dismissed in the aftermath of Virgil van Dijk‘s stoppage time winner for Liverpool, when he became embroiled in a row with home fans.
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Diego Simeone has been handed a one-match ban for his clash with a fan at Atletico Madrid’s Champions League clash at LiverpoolCredit: Getty
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The Argentine is banned for the match with BenficaCredit: Getty
A huge skirmish boiled over when a member of the Atletico staff was accused of spitting and squirting water at Liverpool fans.
But after studying the referee’s and match delegate’s report and video images, Simeone was handed a single game ban for “unsporting conduct”.
It means the former midfielder has been banished from the dressing room and touchline for tonight’s home game with Eintracht Frankfurt.
No action has been taken against the member of the coaching staff, with Uefa seemingly keen to put the matter to bed, although Liverpool were fined £3,500 for fans throwing objects onto the pitch during the game.
MO SALAH and Arne Slot made the secret pact that took Liverpool to the title and made him Player of the Year.
The campaign began with Anfield shrouded in doubts – especially over whether Salah would sign a new deal and how Slot might handle the strain of being Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
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Mo Salah and Arne Slot made a pact at the start of the seasonCredit: EPA
But Salah revealed how he was certain he could make the Dutchman a Prem champ in exchange for a pledge from the new manager.
Slot kept his word and so did the Kop’s Egyptian king as he reveals how over a series of discussions between the pair he declared: “I was very honest.
“I told him: ‘with me, you are going to win the Premier League but I have to feel really comfortable with the way we play.’
“He was very honest with me, we had a few honest conversations and he said to me: ‘OK, I will get the best out of you. I will put you in a situation where you feel comfortable but I need you to provide the numbers’.”
Provide those numbers Salah, just crowned the Football Writers Association’s player of the year for a third time, certainly did.
In what became a cruise to the crown he has set a new Prem high for a 38 – game season of 28 goals and 18 assists.
He needs two more goal involvements in tomorrow’s last game of the season against Crystal Palace to claim history by overtaking the joint record of 47 held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole set over 42 matches.
What’s more Salah will spend at least two more seasons with Liverpool having agreed a near – £400,000 a week new deal when he admits that the one pre – season doubt he did have was whether the club would come up with the numbers to make him stay.
Part of his concern was over the fact that owners Fenway Sports Group had always made age a number for older players.
Cheeky Mo Salah reveals Liverpool’s Premier League title felt way better without Klopp, Mane and Firmino
He explained: “There is always a time either now or later when it is going to happen (Salah leaving) but I love this club.
“I always wanted to stay but I know my value and I was waiting for the club to arrive to the right point where me and the club are both going to be happy so that’s why the contracts took so long.
“Based on the club history, because the club treated players of 30 or 31 in different ways I wasn’t clear in my head that I was going to stay 100 percent.”
Salah, who has equalled Thierry Henry’s record of three FWA awards, couldn’t be happier with the way it has all worked out for him – and for the former Feyenoord manager.
His content is based not only on his own personal pride over what he says was a “crazy season, a crazy year” but also on the warm respect he has developed for Slot.
The 32-year-old stresses: “It’s so special, I have a good relationship with him and I am very respectful towards him and his staff because we all work really hard.
“At the beginning, we had that conversation, he asked me for stuff he wanted me to do.
“I asked him and put me in the positions and situations where I can really provide numbers and our relationship is very good and it’s working well.
“And he has improved me, absolutely. Now he will have to deal with me a bit longer!
“I’ve always believed there’s always room to improve and I think he did it very well and you see the numbers this year and I feel very happy about it.
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Salah has been incredible this seasonCredit: Reuters
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He is set to win the Premier League Golden Boot yet againCredit: Reuters
“I would give him half the credit and the other half to my teammates because they always help me in the situations to give me the ball or be at the right spot so they can pass the ball and I score.”
Salah also speaks warmly of the bond he has always had with the fans, even throughout a campaign of questions over whether he would go, or like skipper Virgil van Dijk, also sign on for another two years.
He says: “My relationship with the fans, I see it as very special.
“They see me as an honest guy and they could see that straight away.
“I think that’s why our relationship is special and that’s why they love me. I don’t hide the stuff, I always share.”
He has improved me, absolutely. Now he will have to deal with me a bit longer!
Mo Salah on Arne Slot
Having picked up the FWA prize at an awards dinner on Thursday night he can now look forward to an even brighter future with Slot – and makes another vow.
He says: “One game to go, I broke the record for 38 games so I am going to go fully focused for the last game and hopefully I can get two goals or assists.
The daddy of them all throughout Liverpool’s Prem history insists: “People need to realise that in the last five or ten years players start hitting their peak when they are 30 and upwards.
“When they have more experience and can manage their emotions and can provide big numbers.
“Football has changed now, people take care of themselves, if you try to do everything right you are going to play until you decide it’s time to retire.
“I said the other day I will probably play until I’m 39, 40 … until the kids tell you: ‘It’s OK, you leave football now and you stay with us!”
