Date: Saturday 21st
January 2023
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT
We might have played out 7 minutes of
squeaky bum time in our game last weekend but we finally came away with a win,
albeit marginal. An average game, an average win but we’ll take that all day
after our run of poor performances and results – we are mid-table after all.
Today’s early game sees us at Anfield to take
on Liverpool, who were poor in their defeat to Brighton last week. They dragged
a win out of somewhere against Wolves on Tuesday but they’re not convincing
anyone. That said, they’re still just about above us in the table having played
a game less, so that says plenty about us this season.
Liverpool do have some key injuries, obviously
nowhere near our level however much Klopp tries to kid us otherwise, but they
probably miss Mane more than anyone in their treatment room. As for us, our
injuries have dragged us down for weeks on end, both in form and confidence and
the win against Palace last week will have given the players a much-needed
boost, it was only a very small start on a very long road to recover something
of a season though.
Whilst neither of us are in any sort of
form, our away form is worrying given its Anfield, and however unconvincing
they’ve been, Liverpool will be right up for our visit today.
Enough of all that though…I wonder who we’re
buying today?
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, says “They [Chelsea] are the only team with a similar injury list to us.
It is tough; Arsenal deserve where they are, they play outstanding football.
But cut out five players, injuries are a massive problem, but not the only
problem. There is still lots of good football. I know how good Chelsea are.
If the owners
aren’t happy, they’ll tell you, so I didn’t worry too much, I just kept
working. I know Graham will do that. To work for a big club is a massive task –
you ignore the size in the best way possible. There is no advice I can give and
he doesn’t need it. He is a fantastic coach.”
Chelsea
manager Graham Potter, meanwhile, says “We’d had a period of suffering,
shall we say, and it is nice to win. The good thing is during that period we
were together, it wasn’t up in flames, it was a group that understood the
position we were in but was determined and focused to try to turn it around. And
at the same time, they had the maturity and intelligence to understand the
situation as well without disrespecting the criticism and all the rest of the
noise that comes your way when you don’t get the results you should get at
Chelsea. But I like the fact we have come through a tough spell – there’s a
good feeling, new players arriving, players coming back from injury, there’s a
buzz in the training ground which is nice.
Beating Liverpool is my focus, I don’t
worry about what is going to happen in five months’ time.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Liverpool, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota,
Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk all remain out. Darwin Nunez (thigh) is
expected to be fit.
For Chelsea, our injury list still comprises
Denis Zakaria, Armando Broja (ACL), Wesley Fofana (knee), N’Golo Kante, Ben
Chilwell (both hamstring), Reece James (knee), Edouard Mendy (finger), Christian
Pulisic (knee) and Raheem Sterling (hamstring). Joao Felix serves the second game
of a 3-game suspension, although our latest signing Mykhailo Mudryk should play
some part today.
TEAMS
LIVERPOOL (Possible line-up): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho,
Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; Chalobah, Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Hall; Kovacic, Jorginho,
Gallagher; Ziyech, Havertz, Mount
LAST SEASON
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
(28th August 2021)
FORM (PL)
LIVERPOOL: WWWWLL
CHELSEA: LWDLLW
OTHER STUFF
- Liverpool have only lost 2 of the past 15 Premier
League meetings.
- The last two meetings have been drawn.
- Liverpool have lost their opening two league games
of the calendar year.
- Chelsea have only won two of 10 Premier League games
- Liverpool have conceded in their last eight Premier
League games.
- Chelsea have scored just 22 goals so far this
season
- Liverpool have conceded 25 league goals so far this
season.
- Chelsea are without a win in five successive away
league games.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
