Chelsea and Liverpool meet at Stamford Bridge in a blockbuster encounter on the opening weekend of 2023-24 Premier League season.
With Mauricio Pochettino now in charge following their worst season in 27 years, Chelsea will look to fight their way back into the top half this season following a summer of change.
Liverpool meanwhile stuttered their way to a sixth-placed league finish last season in a rocky campaign
Team News
Summer signing, Christopher Nkunku is ruled out for Chelsea after he suffered a knee injury during their 1-1 friendly draw against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago, USA in their final pre-season fixture.
Marcus Bettinelli (unspecified), Armando Broja (knee), Benoit Badiashile (groin), Trevoh Chalobah (Achilles) and Wesley Fofa (ACL) are ruled out.
Noni Madueke faces a late fitness test after he suffered a hamstring injury during pre-season.
Goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga is unavailable as he completes a loan move to Real Madrid to cover for ex Chelsea player, Thibaut Courtois.
Summer signings; Nicolas Jackson, Diego Moreira, Lesley Ugochukwu, Axel Disasi and Robert Sanchez could be in line for their debuts.
Liverpool will welcome midfielder, Stefan Bajcetic back into contention after he missed their pre-season schedule, in order to focus on his recovery at home from an adductor injury ahead of the new season.
Thiago Alcantara (hip) remains absent but is expected to return before September’s international break.
Summer signings, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai could be in contention for their debuts.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea meet Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 13 August in a 4:30pm BST kick-off live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last five league meetings against Liverpool (W1, D4).
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five league visits to Chelsea (W2, D3).
- There has never been three consecutive goalless draws in league meetings between Chelsea and Liverpool.
- Pochettino’s Blues kept just one clean sheet in three friendlies against against Premier League opposition during pre-season (W2, D1), which came in a 2-0 win over Fulham in Landover, USA.
- No Liverpool player scored more goals in pre-season than Darwin Nunez (4).
Prediction
If there is one thing for certain coming into this season, it is that Chelsea can’t sink any lower than they did last season but Pochettino seems to have already revitalised his squad with a clear-out and the implementation of one-touch attacking football.
He also should benefit from the extra time that he will have on a week-by-week basis with his squad due to no European commitments, so a serious challenge on all three domestic fronts will be expected this season.
I however can see just one potential squad issue following Arrizabalaga’s loan move because if Sanchez gets injured before Bettinelli returns, Pochettino will have just two academy keepers – Lucas Bergstrom and Eddie Beach available which could be a slight headache.
Liverpool meanwhile have undergone a midfield revamp following the departures of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner, yet Mac Allister and Szoboszlai’s arrivals doesn’t disguise how light the midfield is now with just six midfielders.
Jurgen Klopp though will be pleased with the attacking quality that his team has shown but I do worry that if there is a midfield injury crisis, Liverpool could well struggle at times without further reinforcement.
Now focusing upon this match and I do expect goals because both teams should bring pace and high intensity, which could well mean that end product is key to their prospects which might give Liverpool the edge given recent form at Stamford Bridge if this isn’t a draw.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Result: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
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