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Premier League defenders told how to stop Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea
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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has revealed how he would go about putting the brakes on Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.

Martin Keown has shared the no-nonsense approach he would take to nullify Romelu Lukaku in a match.

The Belgian has lived up to his club-record €115 million fee at Chelsea by scoring four goals in as many games across all competitions since returning to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan over the summer.

Lukaku is not only seen as a prime contender for the Golden Boot but as a key addition to Chelsea’s challenge for Premier League glory.

So is there any way in stopping the Blues goal machine?

“When you’re playing against him, every single ball is a contest,” Keown, who won three Premier League titles at Arsenal, 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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