Premier League leaders, Liverpool face a tough test of their FA Cup credential as they meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a blockbuster Fifth Round clash.
Having broken their FA Cup duck under Jurgen Klopp (albeit Neil Critchely’s U23s in Fourth Round replay), Liverpool are looking to end an eight year drought without a domestic trophy as they face an out-of-form Chelsea team looking to avoid a second consecutive Fifth Round exit.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAndreas Christiansen is a doubt for Chelsea after picking up a knock during Saturday’s draw at Bournemouth.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) and N’Golo Kante (muscle) are unlikely to feature as they near first team returns, as Marco van Ginkel (knee), Christian Pulisic (groin) and Tammy Abraham (ankle) remain sidelined.
Liverpool will be without Naby Keita due to a hip injury which had kept him out of Saturday’s defeat at Watford.
Joe Gomez (knock) and James Milner (muscle) however are all set to feature, although Jordan Henderson, Yasser Larouci (both hamstring), Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) and Nathaniel Clyne (knee) all remain sidelined.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have won six of ten previous FA Cup meetings against Liverpool (W6, L4), with their last such FA Cup clash coming in the 2011-12 Final which the Blues won by a 2-1 result.
- Three of last four FA Cup clashes between these two teams have been settled by 2-1 results of which Liverpool won on two occasions, with the exception being a 4-2 Chelsea win in January 1997.
- Chelsea have won three of four previous FA Cup clashes which took place at Stamford Bridge (W3, L1), only losing by a 2-1 result in the Fourth Round of 1985-86 season.
- Liverpool have lost two of their last three FA Cup clashes against fellow ‘Big Six’ clubs, although all three ended in 2-1 results.
- Chelsea have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home FA Cup matches, only failing to do so in a 2-0 loss by Manchester United at this stage last season.
Prediction
Chelsea simply have to raise their game because they have bee far too sloppy at the back in recent weeks, which will be a huge issue if Jurgen Klopp doesn’t switch up his Liverpool’s front three for this game.
Marcos Alonso however has been one of Chelsea’s better performers lately so getting him higher up the pitch will be key, otherwise the Reds’ defence will quickly close down Chelsea’s attacks and spring swift counter-attacks.
Extra time and penalties therefore would be a good bet if there is no improvement from either team, but I am expecting a stronger Liverpool team than in recent Cup games so am going for a tight away win.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Result: Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
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