‘Hit him’ – Keown opens up on how to stop Lukaku

 

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has given Premier League defenders advice on how to stop Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.

The 28-year-old made the move back to Stamford Bridge this summer in a £97.5million transfer from Inter Milan.

He has hit the ground running in England, scoring on his second debut against Arsenal before bagging a brace in his most recent league fixture versus Aston Villa.

Lukaku poses a very unique threat to defenders with his pace, power and clinical finishing.

And Keown – who faced some formidable strikers during his playing career – has offered some words of wisdom to defenders that will face the Belgian this season.

“When you’re playing against him, every single ball is a contest,” he told talkSPORT.

“I don’t want him to hold on to me to feel me, I wouldn’t want to get too tight but I’m going to hit him. Come two or three yards back, and when I hit him, I’m going to hit him with everything.

“I’m going to be in his ear as well, I’ve got to tell him he’s rubbish, it’s all hype, you’re playing against me today, you’re not going to get that kind of space.

“You can’t let him build into the game and then when it comes, you’re going to [need] to have the game of the season by the way, physically you’re going to have to be up for it.

“He is fantastic in the air, we see the goal he scored in midweek, he’s got everything to his game and he is super confident so you’ve got to make him feel this is different today.

“I’m a little bit different to the rest and I am going to make it tough for you.”

 

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The only side to stop the Belgian from scoring for the Blues this season is Liverpool.

When the Reds hosted Chelsea last month it finished 1-1, with Kai Havertz on the scoresheet for Thomas Tuchel’s team.

And the next side with the task of stopping the former Manchester United striker is Tottenham, who host Chelsea on Sunday.