Big Game Preview: Liverpool vs Chelsea

Two of Germany’s best managers go head-to-head as both teams are fighting to secure Champions League next year. Neither side have been playing inspiring football, but one team is in slightly better form.

Coming into the game, Chelsea have fewer injury concerns with a couple of players on the verge of coming back. While Liverpool are still really struggling. I’m expecting the Liverpool side to not change much if at all baring that in mind. Chelsea on the other hand are just as difficult to predict as they were last weekend.

The only change I’ve made to the Liverpool line up is to swap out Nat Phillips for Reece Williams at centre half. Klopp seems to fancy Phillips more for physical sides like Sheffield United and West Ham United. Williams has played a few Champions League games so I’m thinking Klopp maybe fancies him more for the bigger games hence why I’ve predicted the swap. However, I could easily see Nat keeping his place after a good performance and probably be the most physically capable of matching Giroud. I’ve left Adrian in the line-up but whether he plays or not will be dependent on Allison’s availability. The Reds have been quite suborn in keeping with their base formation with a slight change in Trent Alexander-Arnold forming a back 3 at the beginning of build up play. I don’t expect this to change to face Chelsea which I feel suits Chelsea very well.

Tuchel looks like he has a preferred back three so I’m expected them to play. Having said that Zouma I feel would be a good option as this Liverpool side is lightweight and the big Frenchman may be a good goal scoring threat from set pieces. In the Merseyside derby Carlo Ancelotti noted Andy Robertson to be a big threat for their local rivals and deployed a man marking with Seamus Colman tracking his runs. Chelsea are built for this naturally. With Cesar Azpilicueta, a natural right back, as part of a back 3 with Reece James as the wing back. The Blues can have two full backs monitoring Robertson and Mane on one side while Ben Chilwell and the workhorse that is Mason Mount can track Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. With the scouse right back playing deeper to help with build up play, Mount will be naturally positioned to spoil the defending champions plans. Having these players focus on the defensive side allows the pace of Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner to get at the inexperienced and mistake prone Liverpool back line causing them trouble and offers the German striker potentially a good chance to re-find some confidence against good opposition. Stopping Jones from operating in the number 10 position, where he often finds himself, will take the sting out of Liverpool and help the West London side control the game. That’s why I have gone for Jorginho and Kante as the pivot. They both have more tackles than Kovacic and I feel will do more to stifle Jones and Thiago who are the more dangerous creators after the full backs.

Last week I thought Chelsea would go at the game a bit more than they did which was mistake in hindsight. Normally this is one of my favourite fixtures of the season as the two sides normally have a tough game with plenty of chances, but this time, I’m expecting a very quiet game today too. Both sides have played slower more controlled games recently so I’m expecting the same here. I think Chelsea are maybe the more likely to win 0-1 with Liverpool’s defensive frailties. There is still quality in this Liverpool side as shown when they played West Ham United not too long a go and the quality creeped through despite them struggling for good chances. So, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Liverpool score and prove me wrong again but I think this game will be a forgettable 1 goal game.