After suffering shock midweek European defeats, Chelsea and Liverpool will be keen to bounce back as they meet at Stamford Bridge in this weekend’s closing Super Sunday clash.
Depending on what happens with Manchester United at West Ham, Chelsea could enter this match knowing a win could put them into the top four whilst Liverpool will be looking to re-open their five point lead over Manchester City at the top.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesMason Mount could be available for Chelsea despite suffering an ankle injury during their Champions League defeat to Valencia on Tuesday.
N’Golo Kante (ankle) is also set to feature this weekend but Antonio Rudiger is ruled out with a groin injury.
The German joins Reece James (fitness), Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi (both Achilles), Marco van Ginkel (knee) and Emerson (thigh) on the sidelines again.
Liverpool could have Naby Keita available after over a month out with a groin injury whilst Divock Origi faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury picked up last weekend.
Alisson (calf) and Nathaniel Clyne (knee) however are both definitely ruled out until after October’s international break.
Form
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last four league games with two home draws and two away wins, although they’re yet to keep a clean sheet in all competitions after losing in midweek to Valencia.
Liverpool saw their unbeaten start ended in midweek with a 2-0 away defeat to Napoli in the Champions League, which means that they too are yet to register a clean sheet in all competitions but have five wins from five domestic league games.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have lost their last two meetings with Liverpool in all competitions, having been on a five match unbeaten run (W2, D3, L2).
- Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has scored three goals in his last two starts against Chelsea but has scored just once in five trips to Stamford Bridge, which came with Southampton in October 2015.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold has produced 56 crosses in his league games so far this season, 12 more than the second highest number of crosses from Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
- Tammy Abraham has seven goals in five appearances for Chelsea, already bettering his five goals in 31 appearances for Swansea during the 2017-18 season.
- Liverpool have made 135 crosses so far this season, averaging 27 crosses per match.
Prediction
I think we are in for a corker given the defensive instability at both clubs yet both possess powerful attacks.
Mason Mount however will be key because he has been at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield, spearheading those attacks and if he is unfit, I can see them struggling a bit which will only strongly benefit Liverpool with their high pressing attack.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Result: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool