Liverpool v Chelsea: Preview and Predictions

Liverpool v Chelsea: Preview and Predictions

Liverpool and Chelsea go into this fixture knowing that they can cut the points gap to 2nd place Manchester United to 4 and 5 points respectively. With Manchester United and Leicester City both dropping points midweek, it is Liverpool and Chelsea who can benefit the most. West Ham United don’t play midweek and hence will see themselves fall out of the top 4 if either team wins today.

Preview

Liverpool and Chelsea are making their charge for the top 4 after having dropped points in many fixtures over the season. However now they have the chance to tune their ambitions to the next level as the path to the summit seems a little bit more easier. Catching up with Manchester City is a task that is impossible, but both Liverpool and Chelsea can challenge for 2nd place atleast. They also have a good enough squads to do so too.

Liverpool welcomed the return of Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Ben Davies and Diogo Jota to full team training with Naby Keita available too. Liverpool only have Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez out with injuries and now have a good enough squad for the first time since December. Chelsea will not be liking the fact that Liverpool will be able to field a super strong team for their fixture-but hey, who doesn’t like a challenging fixture?

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Injuries

Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk; Jordan Henderson; Joel Matip; Joe Gomez

Chelsea: Thiago Silva; Tammy Abraham

Predicted Line-ups

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold; Phillips; Kabak; Robertson; Thiago; Fabinho; Jones; Salah; Firmino; Mane

Liverpool had a full squad the last time they faced Chelsea and in the time it took for them to play the second time, almost the whole squad was out with injuries. Now Liverpool’s fortunes have changed for the better (Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta; Christensen; Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi; Kante; Kovacic; Chilwell; Ziyech; Mount; Giroud

Predicted result

Liverpool have been clinical against London teams this season with 6 wins (Tottenham x2, West Ham United x2, Arsenal and Chelsea) and 1 draw against Fulham. They will be expected to carry their form to this match too, but one thing to worry about is their home form. They haven’t been good there in 2021 and will be looking to change their fortunes at Anfield. Now they have an almost fully fit squad to choose from and that might just be the catalyst needed to hand Chelsea their first defeat since Thomas Tuchel took over.

We predict a 2-1 win for Liverpool and for them to break their Anfield duck.

Also read: Leicester and Manchester United drop points to Liverpool and Chelsea’s advantage