Chelsea will face off against Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday night as they try to pick up a positive result on their travels in the Premier League. The Blues were held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge last weekend, so Thomas Tuchel could ask his players to be a bit more adventurous than usual, knowing that a victory will help his side build a four-point gap above the Reds in the league table. However, it won’t be an easy outing for the West London outfit as the Reds will come into this game with some momentum after securing a 2-0 win versus Sheffield United earlier this month.
This game has the makings of an entertaining occasion as both sides will fancy their chances of success at Merseyside in midweek. The Blues head coach will be sweating on Thiago Silva’s fitness, who is unlikely to be ready for this match, but otherwise, the German manager should have a strong squad available for selection on Thursday.
Here are three things Tuchel should do to make sure that his players get a victory over Liverpool.
Play Olivier Giroud As His Centre-Forward Up Top
Giroud has the experience and pedigree to exploit Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses, especially from dead-ball situations. The French striker has proven time and time again that he can quietly win matches on his own by scoring the odd goal for his team. Therefore, Tuchel should consider keeping Giroud in his first-team by giving him the responsibility of carrying Chelsea’s goal-scoring burden later this week.
Use Tammy Abraham’s As An Impact Substitute
Abraham was not included in Tuchel’s match-day squad last weekend. However, the Chelsea boss would be wise to name him on the bench in this game as his pace and power could help the Blues in the latter stages of the contest, especially if they require more firepower in the final third.
Abraham is a decent finisher, so he has what it takes to appear off the bench and nick a goal in the final quarter of the match if needed.
Reinstate Reece James On The Right-Wing
Tuchel should think about replacing Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is more attack-minded, with Reece James, who will bring more defensive stability on the right flank. Chelsea has to find a way to stop Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane from dominating out on the wide areas, so the inclusion of James would help them neutralise the Liverpool duo’s threat during the 90 minutes.
