Chester’s managerial duo can’t wait to rub shoulders with Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp in Saturday’s eagerly anticipated pre-season clash.

German boss Klopp, who guided the Reds to last season’s Champions League final, is set to bring a strong side to the Swansway Chester Stadium (3pm kick-off) as both teams get their pre-season campaign underway.

And for Blues duo Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson it will prove a ‘fascinating’ experience, with the former Salford City pair hoping to talk tactics with one of Europe’s most high-profile footballing figures.

“The way Klopp makes them play is incredible,” Johnson said.

“Me and Bern find ourselves asking how he gets these high-profile players working as hard as they do for him?

“So, if we get the chance to have a quick chat with him after the match, we’ll be picking his brains about his training methods and it will be fascinating to stand on the touchline next to him.

“They probably would have won the Champions League final if they had played like they had been doing. We’re going to be playing against one of the top teams in Europe and he’s one of the top five managers in Europe.”

Johnson and Morley will hand Chester debuts to a host of their summer signings this weekend, including Steve Howson, Grant Shenton, Dom Smalley and Scott Burton, and says it will be a ‘proud day’ for both himself and Morley in front of a sold out 4,500 crowd.

“Myself and Bern will be proud men to stand on that touchline on Saturday,” he continued.

“We’ve got eight players making their debuts and it’s our debut too, to the Chester fans. And we’re making our debuts against Liverpool, it doesn’t get much better!

“It’s going to be a full house, with some of the best players in Europe playing against us.

“The result doesn’t matter on Saturday. They’ve only been in a few days and I suspect they’ve been doing some light stuff so far, so I’m not sure who tuned up they will be.

“It’s just going to be absolutely brilliant and I am genuinely excited.”

Efforts were made to avoid the encounter with Klopp's Reds being a direct clash with England's World Cup quarter-final tie against Sweden, which also kicks off at 3pm.

But 'logistical challenges' and an initial unwillingness on Liverpool's part to agree to an earlier kick-off time have resulted in a far-from-ideal scenario for Johnson, who admits the supporters are now faced with a real dilemma.

"I'm gutted for the fans, I really am," he added. "It would've been great for everyone to get to watch both games, but it is what it is.

"It's arguably one of the biggest games for the club in recent times though, we've got the best players in Europe coming to our ground and what an opportunity we've got.

"I'm guessing we'll know if England have scored or not! I'm sure the fans will keep us updated."