Liverpool will be a tense bunch of people now and after their latest loss made it 1 win out of 8 this year, things are looking extremely bleak for the Reds. They had started off brilliantly but seem to have fallen into a familiar pattern and their reluctance to add to the squad in the summer has cost them. With Coutinho and then Mane absent for a period, their attack, which was their strong point, has struggled.
After going almost a year without losing at home, they have lost 3 games back to back. This has indeed been shocking from the Reds and Jurgen Klopp has to take a lion’s share of the responsibility. His reluctance to recruit players and refusing to budge from a one-dimensional playing style seems to have resulted in fatigue in the players and they have looked worse for wear. The 3 teams to have defeated them at home were Swansea City, Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers which clearly shows the amount of pressure they are under with Chelsea due to visit Anfield.
It will be a crucial match for the Reds as a defeat will in all probability end their hopes of a title challenge and their priorities will quickly change after that. With the match touted to be an entertaining one, it will be interesting to watch.
PREDICTED LIVERPOOL XI VS CHELSEA (4-3-3)
DEFENCE
Mignolet is likely to return in goal and will have to come up with a big performance to give Liverpool a chance of a clean-sheet and subsequently a win. There are doubts regarding Nathaniel Clyne’s fitness but Klopp will hope the English international is ready in time for this crucial encounter. Matip and Lovren are in-line for a start in the central defensive area and with the likes of Costa, Hazard and Pedro in the opposition ranks, it won’t be easy to contain all of them. Milner will be at left-back and has to get over his latest signs of fatigue and stand up to the likes of Pedro and Moses.
MIDFIELD
The midfield will be an important area with both the teams boasting of a quality group of players. Liverpool will most likely select a trio of Henderson, Can and Wijnaldum. Can has been especially poor lately and he has to step up.
ATTACK
Mane is unlikely to come straight back into the team and needs time to settle down again. Lallana will be on the right-flank while Coutinho will be on the left. Firmino will again be playing through the middle.
