Chelsea boss Antonio Conte admits stopping Mohamed Salah will be key to beating Liverpool on Saturday.

Conte has waxed lyrical about the Egyptian ahead of the game.

"I know him very well because he played in Italy for many years," he said.

"Salah is a good player and very dangerous.

"He's a technical player but at the same time very fast, very strong, very good in 1v1s, very good finisher."

Chelsea used to have Salah on the books but he lasted just 12 months at Stamford Bridge.

Conte was quizzed on whether selling the now-Liverpool star was wise.

"I don't know," he said. "It happened in the past and he was very young.

"Now he developed a lot as a player. But this is the past - it's not right to give an answer."