UEFA Super Cup: Liverpool to meet Chelsea in Istanbul tomorrow

Istanbul: Champions League holders Liverpool and Europa League winners Chelsea face off in Istanbul on Wednesday as the UEFA Super Cup is an all-English affair for the first time.

Both teams had contrasting starts to the Premier League season as the Reds put four past Norwich at Anfield before Chelsea had four put past them by Manchester United.

Liverpool, who qualified by claiming their sixth European Cup in Madrid in June, are making their sixth UEFA Super Cup appearance, and are bidding to lift the trophy for the fourth time.

This is Chelsea's fourth UEFA Super Cup match; having won the first, in 1998, they have lost on their last two appearances.

Chelsea's 1998 UEFA Super Cup triumph came after they had won the previous season's UEFA Cup Winners' Cup; they lost in 2012 as UEFA Champions League winners and in 2013 having won that year's UEFA Europa League.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was captain of the team beaten by Atletico in 2012 and Bayern 12 months later. Cesar Azpilicueta was an unused substitute in that 2013 showpiece. The Blues would become the tenth side to win multiple UEFA Super Cups with victory in Istanbul.

Whoever wins in Istanbul will claim England's eighth UEFA Super Cup, fewer only than Spain (15) and Italy (nine). An English side has not triumphed since Liverpool's 2005 success; Premier League clubs have been beaten on their four subsequent appearances, including defeats for Chelsea in 2012 and 2013.

This will also be the first time a Spanish club has not won the UEFA Super Cup since 2013, when Bayern München beat Chelsea on penalties in Prague.

Seven UEFA Super Cup finals have previously been contested by domestic rivals: two all-Italian ones, and five involving Spanish teams including four since 2014, most recently Atletico Madrid beating Real Madrid last year. (QNA)