Chelsea and Liverpool will be desperate to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they face off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Gameweek 7 of the 2025/26 Premier League season continues on Saturday, and we will witness four matches on the day. The action on the day will begin with the game between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road before ending with Chelsea vs Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea began the 2025/26 season in promising fashion, enjoying an unbeaten start before the first international break. However, the Blues have dropped the ball since then, winning only two of their six subsequent matches. Nonetheless, Enzo Maresca will be glad that his charges returned to winning ways earlier this week by beating SL Benfica 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League.
On the other hand, Liverpool may have received a sense of reality check since losing successive games against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray. However, the Reds remain atop the Premier League table, although they will be wary of Arsenal catching up or even usurping them if they slip up this weekend. So, anything other than a victory will be detrimental to the away side’s fortunes.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Chelsea clinch a 3-1 win over Liverpool, with Virgil van Dijk scoring the consolation goal for the Merseyside outfit. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca has a new roster issue that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Chelsea manager will be bereft of the services of over half a dozen first-team players vs Liverpool on Saturday.
Trevoh Chalobah is the latest absentee after being sent off against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. Mykhailo Mudryk also serves a suspension after failing a doping test several months ago. However, there is some positive news, as Wesley Fofana (concussion) and Andrey Santos (knock) may return.
However, Tosin Adarabioyo (calf), Levi Colwill (knee), Dario Essugo (hamstring), Cole Palmer (groin), and Liam Delap (thigh) remain in the treatment room. Adarabioyo and Palmer will return after the international break, with Saturday’s match the last game they will miss.
Robert Sanchez will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Liverpool on Saturday. The backline will feature Reece James, Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the double pivot. Facundo Buonanotte will reprise the no. 10 role, with Estevao Willian and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joao Pedro will lead the line for Chelsea against Liverpool on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Buonanotte, Neto; Joao Pedro
Liverpool
Like his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Arne Slot has new concerns to worry about ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Liverpool manager may be without as many as four first-team players on Saturday.
Alisson Becker is the latest absentee after picking up a hamstring injury in the UEFA Champions League clash with Galatasaray. The Brazilian international accompanies Giovanni Leoni (knee) in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Slot is sweating over the fitness of Federico Chiesa (knock) and Hugo Ekitike (thigh). The duo faces late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is an automatic pick between the sticks in Alisson’s absence, with Liverpool lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Saturday. The backline will feature Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot, with Dominik Szoboszlai reprising the no. 10 role amid Florian Wirtz’s struggles. Finally, Alexander Isak will spearhead the Liverpool attack against Chelsea, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Isak
Key Stats
- After the 3-1 win in May, Chelsea can secure successive Premier League wins vs Liverpool for the first time since November 2014 (3 in a row). The Reds are winless in their last four Premier League games at Stamford Bridge (D3 L1), and they could lose away to Chelsea two seasons running in the top flight for the first time since losing three on the bounce from 2004/05 to 2006/07.
- Chelsea have lost four of their last five home Premier League matches against the reigning champions (D1 L4), having gone undefeated at Stamford Bridge between 2002/03 and 2019/20 (W7 D6).
- Chelsea have suffered consecutive Premier League defeats for only the third time under Enzo Maresca. The Blues have not lost three top-flight games in a row since losing four on the bounce in April/May 2023 under Frank Lampard. Meanwhile, Liverpool will aim to avoid a defeat in successive Premier League matches for the first time since April 2023, having lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace last time out. The Reds have lost their three most recent ties in London, their worst losing streak in the capital since a run between October 2009 and November 2010 (four defeats).
- Chelsea have lost three Premier League matches when scoring first in 2025, their most in a single year since 2018 (also three). The Blues have also only won four of their last 12 Premier League games against Liverpool when they have opened the scoring (D7 L1).
- Federico Chiesa has two goals in just 167 minutes of Premier League football for Liverpool. Among players with ten or more appearances for the Merseyside outfit in the competition, the Italian international is averaging the fewest minutes per game (15 minutes).
Player to Watch
Alexander Isak
While Mohamed Salah, Joao Pedro, and Estevao Willian were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Alexander Isak as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
The Swedish international has scored in his last two Premier League appearances at Stamford Bridge, netting for Newcastle United in defeats in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. The only player to score in three consecutive seasons away at an opponent’s ground and lose all three is Rod Wallace against Norwich City, between 1992/93 and 1994/95, for Leeds United.
Isak will aim to correct that record and clinch a victory for Liverpool by finding the back of the net on Saturday. Additionally, a match-winning performance will be a much-needed catalyst for Liverpool’s record signing to turn his form and fortunes around after a modest start to life at the Merseyside club.
Prediction
Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Chelsea may have returned to winning ways by beating SL Benfica earlier this week, but they are not producing convincing performances. Cole Palmer’s absence has hurt the West London club, and they have struggled to cope with his absence. However, the home side will feel they have a golden opportunity to climb in the Premier League standings amid Liverpool’s struggles.
The Reds have been dreadful thus far in the 2025/26 season, and they have not produced a single colossal performance in their opening ten outings. However, with Chelsea missing Trevoh Chalobah, Liverpool may exploit the home side’s soft underbelly. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Arne Slot and his charges.
