Chelsea vs Liverpool: Three key players to watch out for

The Hard Tackle lists three players who can singlehandedly influence the tie when Chelsea and Liverpool clash on Sunday.

The 2023/24 season is underway, and we already have the first marquee fixture of the campaign. And Chelsea and Liverpool will be desperate to put a forgettable 2022/23 behind them when they lock horns at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.

Chelsea and Liverpool were sub-par in the 2022/23 season, with the Blues, in particular, being dreadful. Both clubs missed out on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the new campaign. And they will be eager to not go a second successive term without Europe’s premier club competition.

Meanwhile, the two heavyweights have been active in the transfer market as they look to improve their squads. Chelsea and Liverpool have also locked horns off the pitch on mutual targets, with the Moises Caicedo saga particularly grabbing attention in the last few days.

So as the two clubs brace themselves for their season-opening fixture at Stamford Bridge, several narratives are emerging. Meanwhile, a few players will need to grab the game by the scruff of its neck to deliver the goods. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists three stars who can singlehandedly influence the tie in West London this weekend.

Mohamed Salah

Our list begins with the most obvious pick. A former Chelsea outcast, this player has become a talismanic figure since joining Liverpool half a dozen years ago. We are, of course, talking about Mohamed Salah, who has an enviable record in season-opening fixtures.

The Egyptian attacker has transformed into a goal machine since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017. And he has already won the Golden Boot multiple times. But after losing the honour to Erling Haaland last season, Salah will be eager to ascend to the top of the scoring charts this term.

With Haaland laying down the marker for the competition with a brace against Burnley, the onus is on Salah to reply with a bang. But if there is one player who can make a splash in the first match of a season, it is Mohamed Salah.

The 31-year-old is the only player in Premier League history to score in six consecutive campaign openers. In total, he has found the back of the net eight times, a record he jointly holds with Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard. Meanwhile, the former Chelsea winger can become the outright fifth-highest scorer for Liverpool with a strike on Sunday. Expect some madness from the experienced forward.

Reece James

The next player on our list will be desperate to bounce back to his best levels after a forgettable 2022/23 campaign. And after inheriting increased responsibility at the onset of this season, he will be raring to go. We are talking about Reece James, the new Chelsea captain.

The English international has earned the armband ahead of the 2023/24 campaign following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta. But with his fitness being suspect, he needs to shrug off the persistent injury troubles to become a pivotal figure for Chelsea.

Meanwhile, despite his recent issues, James remains popular in the transfer market, with Real Madrid keen on signing him. But with Mauricio Pochettino handing the 23-year-old the armband, the Blues have laid down the law for his prospective suitors. Back to the matters on the pitch, James will hold the key for Chelsea this term.

The full-backs are the chief creators in Mauricio Pochettino’s teams. So the James-Chilwell partnership should blossom in the coming months. And if the Chelsea captain rises to the occasion, the vulnerable Liverpool defence will have a long day at work.

Dominik Szoboszlai

We often have a gamut of options for the third pick on such lists. And today’s feature is no different, with Nicolas Jackson, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, and Virgil van Dijk missing out. And we have gone ahead with Dominik Szoboszlai as the third “key player” for Sunday’s game.

The Hungarian international, whose arrival at Anfield came out of nowhere, cost Liverpool big money. So fans will have huge expectations from him heading into the 2023/24 season. But he has shown the quality to become a pivotal figure for the Merseyside club.

Szoboszlai has been settling well and looked solid during Liverpool’s pre-season campaign. And he will be one of the chief creators for the Reds in the new season, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold. In addition, his delivery from set pieces is a sight to behold. So Chelsea must be wary in the defensive phases whenever the ball is at the former RB Leipzig playmaker’s feet.