After a dramatic loss to Sunderland last weekend, Chelsea will be heading to Anfield tonight to face the newly shaped Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool army.
Liverpool are heading to Basel next week to play their European final after 9 long years, but before that, they will have to face Chelsea who will be looking to bounce back in the league and a win would surely help their case.
The last time these two sides met in the premier league this season, Liverpool got the better of Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge by winning the fixture by 3 goals to one. Looking at both the clubs’ recent form, it is Liverpool who are the favourite side as they have won 4 of their last 6 games and have lost just once. Furthermore, Chelsea have won just 2 of their last 6 games and have lost thrice.
Liverpool vs Chelsea Team News:
Liverpool have a lot to worry about as they will be missing Divock Origi, Jordan Henderson, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Jordan Rossiter and Danny Ward through injury.
For the visitors, the side will be without the suspended Terry while Pedro, Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma are sidelined with injury.
Lineups:
Liverpool-
Mignolet
Clynel; Toure; Lovren; Moreno
Can; Milner;
Lallana; Firmino; Coutinho
Sturridge
Chelsea-
Courtois
Azpilicueta; Ivanovic; Cahill; Baba
Fabregas; Matic
Willian; Loftus-Cheek; Hazard
Diego Costa
Stats-
- Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine Premier League games against Chelsea and conceded two goals in each of the last three meetings at Anfield.
- Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League games against Liverpool.
- The first goal of the game has been scored in the opening 10 minutes in four of the last five Premier League meetings between Liverpool and Chelsea.
- If Liverpool win it will be the 27th home win in this fixture in the Premier League (currently 13 each) – no Premier League fixture has had more (Liverpool v Newcastle also 27).
- Chelsea have conceded 50+ goals in a Premier League season (51) for the first time since 1996/97 when they conceded a joint-club-record 55 in the competition (also in 1994/95).
- Liverpool have scored in each of their last 12 Premier League games, their best scoring run in the top-flight since April 2014 (25).
- Diego Costa has been involved in 14 goals in his last 14 Premier League games for Chelsea (nine goals, five assists).
Stats via Eurosport
Tactics-
Liverpool will surely be the confident side in the game and their main man Philippe Coutinho will look to exploit Chelsea’s fullbacks with his trickery and pace. With Baba starting the game, Lallana will have an easier time and will surely enjoy his time to trouble the center backs.
Liverpool’s game is based on their tempo, and I’m pretty sure that Chelsea’s defence will be unable to match the speed of their opponents.
Furthermore, Chelsea’s game this season has been totally based on their counter attacks. Many goals this season have come through the counter attacks and we saw the best example of the same in their clash against Tottenham Hotspur. Both their wingers and Fabregas time their pass and run respectively, and cause some threat for the opposition.
Preview-
As I told earlier, the recent results and recent form favours Liverpool, but we cannot simply ignore the former champions so easily. This will be a tough war, but according to me, Liverpool will find a way to rob all three points from Chelsea.
3-1 Liverpool