Liverpool will welcome Chelsea at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
The Merseyside club have enjoyed a stellar campaign so far this term, sitting at the summit of the league with 48 points from 21 games. So, they have been showing signs that they could manage to lift the league title this season.
However, Jurgen Klopp has dropped a bombshell news that he is set to leave the club at the end of this season following a successful nine-year spell. So, it now remains to be seen whether the Reds can keep their focus after this news.
On the other hand, Chelsea have endured a difficult campaign so far this term, but they have started to accumulate victories in recent weeks and as a result, they have managed to climb up the table a bit.
So, they will be hoping to defeat the Reds in this game to close the gap with the top-four spot. However, the Merseyside club have become an unbeatable side, especially at Anfield. Therefore, the West London club would find it difficult to come away with all three points from this fixture.
Meanwhile, Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough in the semifinal of the Carabao Cup in midweek and they have now secured their place in the final. So, they will face off against Liverpool in the final at Wembley in a month. Klopp’s side have booked their tickets for the final by defeating Fulham in the semis.
Previous meetings
The reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw when these two sides met at Stamford Bridge back in August. Chelsea were the better side on that day but they couldn’t convert their chances so they eventually had to settle for a one point.
How to watch
The game will kick off at 8:15 pm UK time and the match will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK. Subscribers can watch all the action via the TNT Sports or Discovery+ apps.
For those fans who want to watch the game live in person, you can buy Liverpool vs Chelsea tickets through the official club websites or via reputable resellers such as seatsnet.com.
Team news
Joel Matip has been ruled out for the rest of this campaign having sustained a serious knee issue. So, he isn’t in contention to feature in this fixture. In addition, Konstantinos Tsimikas is also set to remain sidelined for this game due to a shoulder issue.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was unable to feature for his boyhood club over the last few encounters due to a knee issue. But, he has returned to full fitness and even made an appearance against Norwich City in the FA Cup last weekend. So, he is available to feature in this encounter.
Dominick Szoboszlai has also returned to full fitness after recovering from a hamstring issue so he is also in contention to be involved in this game, but Klopp might not opt to name him in the starting eleven.
Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah are set to be unavailable for this fixture as the Japanese is currently out with his national team to play in AFC Asian Cup, while Salah is currently out injured. He picked up a hamstring issue playing for Egypt in AFCON and is now set to remain sidelined over the upcoming few weeks.
As for Chelsea, the Blues have been struggling with fitness issues this season. Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez and Lesley Ugochukwu have also been struggling with injury problems at the moment and they aren’t in contention to feature in this fixture.
In addition, Christopher Nkunku and Trevoh Chalobah have also been sidelined in recent times owing to their respective injuries. But, Nkunku has returned to full training ahead of this game and it is going to be interesting to see whether he is named in the matchday squad for this fixture.
Levi Colwill sustained an injury during warm-up ahead of the game against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. So, he is in doubt ahead of this fixture. Nicolas Jackson is currently out with his national team Senegal in the AFCON so he isn’t in contention to feature against Liverpool.
Predicted line-up
Klopp is set to deploy his preferred 4-3-3 formation with Alisson set to be in goal. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are likely to be the centre-back pairing for the hosts with Joe Gomes and Andy Robertson expected to start in the fullback position. Klopp wouldn’t want to rush Alexander-Arnold back so the fullback could feature off the bench.
Alexis Mac Allister should be in the deep-lying playmaker position, while Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones could complete the midfield trio. Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez might be deployed in the flanks, starting Diogo Jota in the number nine role. So, Cody Gakpo will have to settle for a place on the bench in this fixture.
Expected Liverpool line-up vs Chelsea
Alisson; Gomes, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch; Diaz, Jota, Nunez
As for Chelsea, Pochettino is likely to go with the 4-2-3-1 formation. Dorde Petrovic is set to continue in goal for the Blues and in front of the Serbian, Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile should be the centre-backs.
Axel Disasi and Ben Chilwell could commence in the fullback position, while Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez might be in the midfield pivot position.
Raheem Sterling is likely to be in the left-wing position with Noni Madueke on the opposite flank. Conor Gallagher should be in the number ten position, while Cole Palmer could commence in the centre-forward position.
Expected Chelsea line-up vs Liverpool
Petrovic; Disasi; Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernández; Sterling, Gallagher, Madueke; Palmer
Key players
Jota has been in fine form in recent times and he has seemingly taken over the responsibility to fill Salah’s void amid his injury absence. Jota has scored four goals and registered three assists in his last seven appearances in all competitions and the Anfield faithful will be hoping that the Portuguese will be able to continue his impressive form on Wednesday.
Nunez has also been displaying promising performances in recent times, scoring four goals and notching up three assists in the last seven appearances in all competitions. Some Liverpool transfer rumours suggest Klopp needs a new striker. So, the South American will be hoping that he will be able to guide his team to victory on Wednesday by putting his name on the score-sheet.
For Chelsea, Palmer has already established himself as a talismanic figure for the West London club having joined them from Manchester City last summer. So, the onus will be on him to create opportunities for fellow attackers and finish those off when he gets any.
Chelsea’s back four and the goalkeeper is expected to come under a lot of pressure in this fixture so they will have to be at their very best to help the Blues come away with a positive result from this encounter.
Prediction
Liverpool are always the heavy favourite to win at Anfield and it is the same once again in this fixture. However, Chelsea have showcased that they have the qualities to churn out surprise results when they are underdogs.
But, it is highly unlikely that Pochettino’s side will be able to stop Liverpool from winning on Wednesday evening. Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea
