Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as they continue to push for UEFA Champions League qualification.
Chelsea are fifth in the Premier League table, and they cannot afford to drop points at this stage of the season as they prepare for the game vs Liverpool at home this weekend. The Blues have a dreadful record against Liverpool, and it will be interesting to see if they can make amends here.
The visitors have nothing to play for. They have already won the Premier League title, and it will be interesting to see if they can produce a strong performance here. The Reds have an impressive record against Chelsea, and they will look to complete a league double over the London club.
Liverpool are certainly the better team on paper, and they are coming into this match on the back of five wins from the last six matches. Chelsea have not been too bad either, and they are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended for the hosts. Other than that, Wesley Fofana and Marc Guiu are ruled out with hamstring issues. Chelsea are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Robert Sanchez in goal.
Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact at the back and hit Liverpool on the counter. Nathaniel Chalobah will form the central defensive partnership alongside Levi Colwill.
As for the midfield unit, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will start in the double pivot. Caicedo will look to protect the back four and break down the opposition attacks, and Fernandez will look to add creativity and control to the side from the deep.
Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, and he will look to add goals and creativity to the side. Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho will start on either side of him. They will add pace and flair to the attack. Finally, Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for Chelsea vs Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Liverpool
Arne Slot will be without Joe Gomez, who is still recovering from his hamstring injury. Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Chelsea, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add defensive cover and control from the midfield, while Dominik Szoboszlai creates goalscoring opportunities for his teammates in the number ten role.
Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will add creativity and goals from the wide areas, with Diogo Jota leading the line for Liverpool vs Chelsea on Sunday. So, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz will be backup options on the bench for the away side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Jota
Key Stats
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in 24 of their last 27 matches in the Premier League.
- Chelsea have drawn their last six home matches vs Liverpool in all competitions.
- Chelsea have been drawing at both half time and full time in their last six home matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
- 11 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
- Liverpool have lost on two of their past three visits to London, losing 3-2 at Fulham and 1-0 to Tottenham, winning the other 2-0 at Brentford
Player to Watch
Cole Palmer
The English attacker is our key player to watch out for. Palmer is certainly one of the best attackers in the league, and the Blues will need him to stay up and deliver here. Chelsea are in desperate need to win to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive, and they will need Palmer to step up and deliver.
Liverpool have looked vulnerable defensively in recent weeks, and he could cause problems for them. Palmer will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and get on the score sheet himself.
Prediction
Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Both teams will look to pick up a win here, and this is likely to be a contest. On paper, Liverpool are a better team, but Chelsea are likely to put up a strong fight here. They will be looking to continue their push for a top-four finish, and they cannot afford to end up on the losing side.
Chelsea and Liverpool are likely to get on the score sheet here, and it will be difficult to separate them. They could cancel each other out and share the spoils in a draw. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw for Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge.