Liverpool vs Chelsea: The two Premier League giants meet for the first time this season on January 21, 2023, in an early kickoff at Anfield. The 9th and 10th-placed teams face each other as they look to get more points.
Both teams have 28 points, but Liverpool have a game in hand ahead of Chelsea.
Preview
Liverpool were forced to witness one of their biggest defeats this season against Brighton. It was a disappointing match for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The defeat was Liverpool’s first back-to-back defeat since 1993 at the start of a new year.
The Liverpool side is 10 points adrift of a Champions League place. It has been a difficult season so far.
However, the manager got what he wanted against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup replay.
A wonderful strike from Harvey Elliot books Liverpool for the next round of the FA Cup. It was Liverpool’s first win in 2023 after four attempts.
Liverpool had their first clean sheet in the last seven matches. At Anfield, they have lost just one match in the last 32 matches. The last match in which Liverpool failed to score at home was in March 2021 against Fulham, where they lost 1-0.
It is a real advantage for the Reds against Chelsea. Liverpool scored 23 goals at Anfield; only Manchester City have scored more goals than them at home.
Chelsea, on the other hand, got their first win of 2023 against Crystal Palace. Thanks to beautiful saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga and Thiago Silva, whose performances were beyond perfection.
Kai Havertz’s 64th-minute goal separated the two London sides. The new Chelsea winger, Mykhaylo Mudryk, was unveiled in front of the fans. Mudryk’s signing was Todd Boehly’s fifth in the January transfer window.
Chelsea hang on to the 10th position on the Premier League table and are on equal point with Liverpool who stay in the 9th place on goal difference.
Potter continues to receive a lot of support from the Chelsea board despite winning just two matches out of ten in all competitions.
Probable Line Up
Liverpool probable starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Chelsea probable starting lineup:
Kepa; Chalobah, Badiashile, Silva, Hall; Kovacic, Jorginho, Gallagher; Ziyech, Aubameyang, Mount
Liverpool vs Chelsea H2H
Both teams have met 192 times in all competitions. Liverpool won 84 times, drew 43 times, and lost to Chelsea 65 times.
The last match ended in a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup, final. Liverpool went on to win the title via penalties.
Team News
Liverpool Arthur, Luiz Diaz, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, and Virgil Van Dijk are already out of the encounter. However, Klopp expects Darwin Nunez to be available against Chelsea. Nunez’s return could see Cody Gakpo move to the right side of the wing.
Alisson Becker, Joel Matip, Mohamed Salah, and Fabinho are likely to return to the squad to play against the London side.
For Chelsea, Mudryk may make his debut against the Reds after joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in the January transfer window. Kai Havertz was not seen in training for an unknown reason.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will replace Havertz in the attack. Chelsea’s treatment room still includes Wesley Fofana, former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic, Ben Chilwell Eduardo Mendy, Reece James, Armando Borja and Dennis Zakaria.
Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix is serving his second match ban after receiving a red card against Fulham.
Benoit Badiashile and Lewis Hall, who had a good performance in the last match, are likely to start.
Prediction
Both teams have a couple of players injured and wouldn’t want to risk having more. Potter wants to start winning matches, and Klopp doesn’t like the position they are in on the Premier League table.
Both teams are likely to start their best players, but the best comes out victorious.
Liverpool 2:1 Chelsea
