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Romelu Lukaku
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GLYN KIRK / AFP
Team manager Thomas Tuchel foregoes striker Romelu Lukaku in the top game of his Chelsea FC against Liverpool on Sunday (5.30 p.m. / Sky).
The Belgian striker, who recently publicly expressed dissatisfaction with his situation with the Londoners, is not in the Blues squad.
According to English media reports, Lukaku is not injured, but rather a disciplinary measure decided by Tuchel.
On New Year's Eve, Lukaku said in an interview with Sky Sport Italia that he was "not happy" at Chelsea and under coach Tuchel.
Then he added: "I will play for Inter again at some point, I really hope so."
After two years in Italy he was “physically in very good shape, even better than before.
But I'm not happy with the situation here in London, "said Lukaku." I think the coach decided to play with a different system, but I can't give up and have to keep working and behave like a professional. "
Lukaku moved from Italy to London in the summer as the most expensive transfer in the club's history for 115 million euros, where he became a teammate of German national players Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Antonio Rüdiger.
Things are not going well for the 28-year-old at Chelsea, but he has scored in the last two games.
Tuchel had reacted angrily to the statements: “We don't like it, I don't like it because it's noise that we don't need.
We need a quiet environment and focus and that doesn't help, ”said the Chelsea manager.
“I don't feel like he's unhappy.
So I would say it's a surprise.
If there is anything to discuss, it is behind closed doors. "
Team manager Jürgen Klopp will be absent from Liverpool.
The 54-year-old, who had a conspicuous corona test, is in isolation and is represented by his assistant Pepijn Lijnders.
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