Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge in a blockbuster Super Sunday showdown in the Premier League title race.
Victory would see Chelsea stay second but reduce their deficit to league leaders – Manchester City to eight points.
Liverpool meanwhile can leapfrog Thomas Tuchel’s Blues into second with a win.
Team News
Thiago Silva could return for Chelsea after missing their midweek draw against Brighton with a hamstring injury.
Reece James (hamstring), Andreas Christensen (back), Timo Werner (illness), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (knock) and Ben Chilwell (knee) are all ruled out.
Liverpool will be without Thiago Alcantara as the Spanish midfielder recovers from a hip injury.
Adrian (calf), Andrew Robertson (suspension), Nathaniel Phillips (cheekbone), Harvey Elliott (ankle), Divock Origi (knee) and Takumi Minamino (muscle) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League meetings against Liverpool (W1, D2, L4)
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last seven Premier League trips to Stamford Bridge (W4, D2, L1).
- Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have scored twice in each of their last two league visits to Chelsea.
- No Chelsea player has won more aerial battles so far this season in the Premier League than Antonio Rudiger, who has won 41 aerial duels in 19 appearances.
- Coming into this matchweek, no goalkeeper has made more punches than Liverpool’s Alisson, who has made 13 punches in 18 league appearances.
Prediction
Despite getting outplayed in attack by Brighton in midweek, Chelsea should be proud of their defensive effort because they did well to ensure the Seagulls wasted 17 of their 18 shots, whilst also taking the lead themselves until a late equaliser.
Liverpool meanwhile just endured a frustrating match at Leicester on Tuesday where nothing went right for them in the final touch despite fantastic creative energy, whilst their fullbacks were just outplayed with clever trickery which cannot be repeated here.
Both teams therefore have improvement to make at opposite ends of the pitch so I am expecting a tough fight because defeat would effectively damage the title hopes of both teams, yet this feels destined for a draw unless Liverpool deliver.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Result: Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool