Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool fell to their first loss of the season in Naples earlier this week. But they will look to get back to winning ways this weekend when they travel to Stamford Bridge in a domestic league game. They face Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side, that lost 1-0 to Valencia in their group stage game of the Champions League.
Liverpool have been excellent so far this season, and have lost just one of their last 44 league games. They will hope to put in a strong performance against a Chelsea side that is still finding its feet, as they look to give Manchester City very little chance to cover the five-point gap at the top of the points table.
Liverpool Team News
Nathaniel Clyne remains the only long term absentee for Klopp ahead of this game. The manager revealed that Naby Keita will be back in training on Friday and will certainly make the squad for this game.
But Alisson Becker and Divock Origi are ruled out, though Klopp was confident that the duo is making positive strides towards gaining full fitness.
PREDICTED LIVERPOOL LINEUP vs CHELSEA (4-3-3)
Defence
Adrian was unlucky to be on the losing side at Sao Paulo earlier in the week, after putting in a splendid performance against Napoli. Alisson’s absence means that the Spaniard will keep his place under the bar against Chelsea in the Liverpool lineup.
Virgil van Dijk’s error led to Napoli’s second in that game but that will not faze the Dutch star, who will look to keep Tammy Abraham quiet in this game. He will play alongside Joel Matip, who has been solid at the back for The Reds so far this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold also struggled against Napoli but his creativity will be crucial for Liverpool in this tie. However, he will have his work cut out against Christian Pulisic, who might start on Chelsea’s left. Andrew Robertson seemed off-colour in that game but is easily one of the best players in his role and will keep his place at left-back.
Midfield
Fabinho was probably the best Liverpool player in the mid-week. He will have to put in a similar performance to keep the likes of N’Golo Kante (if he starts) and Mateo Kovacic from running the game in the middle of the park.
Skipper Jordan Henderson only came off in the 86th minute in that game and could be given a day off. Georginio Wijnaldum, who came off the bench in Naples, should start in the midfield along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who will add some creativity in the Liverpool lineup.
Attack
Klopp has rarely rested any of his front three. Roberto Firmino was benched for last week’s game against Newcastle United but was crucial for Liverpool to get a grip on the game. He will surely start this weekend in this crunch clash against Chelsea.
Mohamed Salah has scored in each of the last two meetings with Chelsea and will look to continue this run. He will start on the right flank while Sadio Mane, who now has six goals and an assist in the last six games, will keep his place on the left flank.
Here is how they might line up:
