Chelsea will entertain Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon looking to earn their first home win of this campaign. The Reds will come into this encounter having emerged victorious in each of their five Premier League matches so far this season.
Tomorrow’s clash has the makings of an exciting contest with both sides looking to play some open, expansive brand of football in search of the three points.
Talking Tactics
The Pensioners are expected to set-up in a 4-3-3 formation as they look to match Liverpool stride from stride at both ends of the pitch. Lampard will hope that his side can defend well and hit the Reds on the counter. Abraham will carry most of the goal-scoring burden for the home side, but he should get help from Pulisic and Pedro as they try to cause problems out on the wide areas.
The Merseyside outfit will also opt for a 4-3-3 formation. Klopp will expect his team to take care of the ball and create some clear-cut openings going forward. Liverpool were wasteful in the final third against Napoli in midweek so they would be desperate to right their wrongs this weekend.
Team News
Chelsea
Both Callum Hudson-Odoi and NGolo Kante are unlikely to feature in this game. Mason Mount and Antonio Rudiger are major doubts for this clash as well and might not be risked by Lampard. However, Callum Hudson-Odoi could be a member of the Chelsea matchday squad this weekend after he recovered from his serious knee injury.
Chelsea Predicted XI
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma, Marcos Alonso; Matteo Kovacic, Jorginho, Ross Barkley; Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham, Pedro
Liverpool
Divock Origi is a significant doubt for this game and will be in a race against time to be fit for this match. Naby Keita might be named on Klopp’s bench if he can recover in time for this away encounter at West London.
Liverpool Predicted XI
Adrian; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
Key Men
Chelsea
Tammy Abraham has enjoyed the form of his life in the Premier League over the past few weeks. He needs to continue with his goal-scoring streak if Chelsea are to have any chance of claiming maximum points from this clash in the English capital. Both Christensen and Zouma will have to ensure that the Chelsea defence can keep things tight at the back against the dangerous front three of Liverpool.
Liverpool
Salah, Mane and Firmino will all be desperate to score after failing to do so against Napoli in midweek. The talented trio’s performances will determine the outcome of this contest for the Reds. Wijnaldum could also play a crucial role as he looks to lead the press from midfield.
Odds
The bookmakers have made Liverpool a slight favourite to secure a win versus Frank Lampard’s men on Sunday after they were priced at 19/20. The draw is listed as 11/4 while Chelsea are 5/2 underdogs for this league encounter at Stamford Bridge.
