Liverpool FC
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
Heavyweight clash with champions Liverpool and Chelsea slugging it out for a top four place
Liverpool to win 2-1
Liverpool and Chelsea must both consign themselves to the fact that this has been a disappointing season, with both expecting to challenge for the title at the start of the campaign.
With Manchester City running away with the league, and Manchester United and Leicester looking to tie up 2nd and 3rd, that one remaining Champions League place appears up for grabs.
Although there is still 12 games remaining for both clubs, the winner here will take a massive step to claiming a top four spot this season.
Liverpool endured a terrible spell of four defeats in a row, but bounced back with an important win over Sheffield United at the weekend.
Chelsea, who are still undefeated under their new manager, earned a point against Manchester United at the weekend, but have not been as free-flowing going forward as their expensive teamsheet would suggest.
This should be a cracking game.
Form Guide (all comps): LLWLW
Reasons to be cheerful:
Could win five successive games against Chelsea
Could return to the top four with a win here
Reasons to be fearful:
Could lose five consecutive home matches for the first time in their history
Only three sides have lost more games in 2021 than Liverpool
Liverpool will be hoping that they have turned the corner after ending a four-match losing streak by beating Sheffield United at the weekend.
It was a run of form which has seen them slip from top of the table at the start of 2021, to now scrambling for a top four finish this season.
On a positive note, Fabinho could be fit to play a part here, having missed the last four matches, and Diogo Jota, who has missed the last 19 matches through injury, could return up front.
They’ll know just how hard to beat Chelsea have been recently, but will have a game plan to break them down. They do have a fantastic record over Chelsea in recent seasons, after all…
Star Man – Mo Salah
The Egyptian has gone the last two games without scoring, but will surely be on target again before too long. His quality could open Chelsea up here.
Form Guide (all comps): WWDWD
Reasons to be cheerful:
Tuchel is unbeaten in his first nine matches as manager
They’ve only conceded two goals during that run
Reasons to be fearful:
Tuchel has never beaten Klopp in seven previous attempts
Averaging only just over a goal a game currently
Chelsea are one of the top teams in terms of form right now, with only Manchester City earning more points since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as Blues manager nine matches ago.
They have only conceded two goals during that time, with the new manager turning to Antonio Rudiger as an ever-present in his defensive line-up.
Here, they will be tested considerably more than they were against Manchester United, where both teams appeared happy to settle for a point.
Against Liverpool, a side who they are going head-to-head against for a top four position, they will need to be more positive if they intend to take three points.
They have a poor record against Liverpool to overturn, having lost on the last four occasions.
Star Man – Callum Hudson-Odoi
Faces a late fitness test, but has been an ever-present under Tuchel. His quality from the wings has worked well recently.
Should be an entertaining game with no clear favourite
Goals at both ends
Defeat could end a top four push
Both sides have the incentive of going into the top four with a win here, though for the loser, it would be a huge blow in their push for the top four this season.
Liverpool have the better attacking options, though Chelsea’s defence has been close to perfect recently.
Either side could take the points, but the home team should make their experience count.
Liverpool to win 2-1
