Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield in a blockbuster Thursday Night Football clash in the race for the Premier League top four.
Victory would see Liverpool leapfrog Chelsea and West Ham into fourth regardless of how Everton fare at West Brom earlier on Thursday evening, whereas Thomas Tuchel’s Blues can go fourth themselves with at least one point.
Team News
Alisson is set to return in goal for Liverpool after missing Sunday’s win at Sheffield United for personal reasons.
Diogo Jota (illness) and Caoimhin Kelleher (knock) are doubts but Fabinho (muscle) could return whilst Jordan Henderson (adductor), Joel Matip (ankle), Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk (both knee) remain absent.
Chelsea could be without Callum Hudson-Odoi after the midfielder suffered a thigh injury in Sunday’s goalless draw against Manchester United.
Thiago Silva could also return after missing recent matches with a muscle injury.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five league meetings against Chelsea (W4, D1).
- Chelsea have failed to win any of their last five trips to Anfield (D3, L2).
- Jurgen Klopp’s have kept just one clean sheet in their last five matches against Chelsea across all competitions.
- Chelsea’s four goals in three away league games under Thomas Tuchel have come from Jorginho and Mason Mount, with both midfielders each netting twice.
- Just one of Mohamed Salah’s 17 league goals for Liverpool this season have come from a header.
Prediction
With the top four race looking incredibly tight, this is a must-win for Liverpool to prove that their mojo is back after their win at rock-bottom Sheffield United despite several players lacking confidence on the attack on Sunday evening.
Chelsea meanwhile just lacked that sharpness to draw closer towards goal in Sunday’s goalless draw against Man Utd, which meant wasted shots whilst Edouard Mendy delivered a strong performance in goal to keep that clean sheet.
This therefore looks like a difficult match to call but if Liverpool can learn from Sunday and take heart from their good record in recent league meetings, they should just have enough given Chelsea’s issues up front otherwise it will be a draw.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
Result: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea