Liverpool will host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, with both sides desperate for a win this weekend.
Liverpool were beaten 3-0 at the Amex Stadium by Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, and they need to pick up all three points against Chelsea if they want to keep their hopes of finishing in the top four alive.
The home side are currently ninth In the league table with just 28 points from 18 league matches. And Jurgen Klopp will be eager to see his charges step up and produce a big reaction against Chelsea this week.
The midweek win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup will have given them some much-needed confidence boost heading into this game. On the other hand, it has been a similar situation with Chelsea who are tenth in the standings, with 28 points after 19 league matches.
For both teams, this is a must-win contest and it remains to be seen who comes out on top here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the Premier League encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Back in Premier League action at Anfield this weekend 🔴#LIVCHE pic.twitter.com/93AHVm1Nlz
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 19, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
The home side will be without the services of Arthur Melo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Virgil van Dijk due to injuries. Roberto Firmino remains a doubt because of his knock, and Kostas Tsimikas picked up an injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers and is likely to miss out here.
Jurgen Klopp will be delighted with the return of Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan striker has managed to recover from a hamstring injury and will likely return to the fold after missing out against Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolves.
Alisson Becker is set to start in goal behind the back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson. Alexander-Arnold and Robertson will be expected to add creativity from the wide areas and help out defensively as well.
In the midfield, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are expected to start alongside Fabinho. The Brazilian international will anchor the midfield and break up the opposition’s play, while Thiago and Henderson will look to add creativity and drive from the middle of the park.
The front three pretty much picks itself following the return of Nunez. The Uruguayan striker will lead the line for Liverpool against Chelsea, with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo lining up as the wide forwards in a 4-3-3.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Chelsea
The Blues have a lengthy injury list, and they will be without the services of Denis Zakaria, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante, Armando Broja, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Edouard Mendy and Christian Pulisic. January signing Joao Felix picked up a red card against Fulham and will set to miss out through suspension.
Chelsea have been very active in the transfer market this month, and January signings Benoit Badiashile and Mykhaylo Mudryk are expected to start here. But Noni Madueke will unlikely feature, considering his impending move might not be completed in time.
Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in goal in the absence of Mendy. Cesar Azpilicueta will start as the right-back, with Thiago Silva and Badiashile lining up at the heart of the defence. Marc Cucurella is expected to start as the left-back here.
In the midfield pivot, Italian international Jorginho will partner with Mateo Kovacic. Mudryk is expected to be handed his Chelsea debut here as the left winger. Mason Mount should start as the central attacking midfielder, with Hakim Ziyech on the right in a 4-2-3-1. Finally, Kai Havertz will likely lead the line for the away side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Badiashile, Cucurrella; Jorginho, Kovacic; Ziyech, Mount, Mudryk; Havertz
Key Stats
- Liverpool have lost just two of their last 15 Premier League matches against Chelsea (W6 D7), although one of those was at Anfield in March 2021. The home team has won just three of the last 17 Premier League games between Liverpool and Chelsea (D7 L7), though two of those have come at Anfield (2-0 in April 2019, 5-3 in July 2020).
- Liverpool have lost both of their league games in 2023 so far, going down 3-1 at Brentford and 3-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion. They have not lost their first three league matches in a calendar year since 1953.
- Chelsea have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games (D3 L5), though they did beat Crystal Palace 1-0 last time out. Away from home, the Blues are winless in five Premier League games (D2 L3), their longest run since September to December 2015 (7).
- Liverpool have conceded at least once in each of their last eight Premier League games, last doing so in nine in a row between May and October 2016. They have shipped three goals in each of their last two league games, last shipping 3+ in three in a row in the top-flight in December 1953.
- Excluding own goals, 10 of Liverpool’s last 11 goals at Anfield in all competitions have been scored by either Darwin Nunez or Mohamed Salah (5 each). Between them, the pair had scored just one of the Reds’ first 16 home goals this term (excluding own goals)
Player to Watch
Darwin Nunez
The Uruguayan international missed out against Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers because of an injury. And he will be desperate to make his mark here. Despite the fact that he has not found the net consistently, Nunez has been a handful for opposition defenders and could cause all sorts of problems for Chelsea’s vulnerable defence here.
Nunez’s pace, directness, flair and physicality could help Liverpool create chances here, and he will be hoping to add to his tally of ten goals this season. Expect the young striker to show the zeal to deliver the goods for Liverpool against Chelsea.
Prediction
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Liverpool and Chelsea will be desperate for all three points here. And a defeat here could be a damaging blow as far as UEFA Champions League qualification is concerned. This is likely to be a close contest, and the two teams are likely to cancel each other out.
Both Liverpool and Chelsea have struggled in recent weeks. And it is difficult to pick out a winner. The Hard Tackle predicts a goal-scoring draw between the two teams on Saturday, with the result not helping either team.