EPL Preview: Liverpool vs Chelsea, Key-stats, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction

Liverpool-Chelsea-Klopp-Tuchel
Liverpool-Chelsea-Klopp-Tuchel

One of the most prominent fixtures in the Premier League this weekend sees Liverpool play Chelsea in what is the third round of matches of the 2021/22 league season.

Venue: Anfield

Key Statistics

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 PL games (W8, D2)

Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk has never lost in his 48 PL appearances at Anfield for the ‘Reds’ (W43, D5).

Chelsea are on a four game-winning run heading into this tie.

Thomas Tuchel’s new striker, Romelu Lukaku, scored four goals in his first four PL appearances against Liverpool.

Head to head

Liverpool have won three of the last five meetings between both teams. Chelsea have two wins in that period.

Latest Performances (Without Penalty shootout)

Liverpool: W-W-W-D-W (Goals for 10, against 2)

Chelsea: W-W-W-D-D (Goals for 10, against 4)

Liverpool

Fresh from their 2-0 win over Burnley last weekend, Liverpool will look to continue their impressive start to the season when they welcome Chelsea to Anfield.

The Red have been in spectacular form recently and are entering this tie on a seven game-winning run in the league. The run started last season when Jurgen Klopp’s men overcame a poor series of poor results to claim a third-place finish at the expense of Chelsea.

Now they have an opportunity to exact revenge against the Blues, who were also one of the teams to beat them at home when they were struggling last season.

With Virgil van Dijk back and his squad fully fit, Klopp will be confident of winning against this Chelsea side, boasting the most expensive striker in England.

Possible Liverpool starting line-ups

Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson; Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane.

Chelsea

In-form Chelsea will travel to England buoyed by the manner of their win at Arsenal and the arrival of Romelu Lukaku, who penned his Chelsea account at the Emirates last weekend.

Thomas Tuchel’s men have won all of their last four competitive matches and are yet to concede in England this season. The German will face Klopp for his 16th time but has won only three of those meetings (D3, L9), although he won the Liverpool manager on the last two occasions.

Although they have a poor record against Liverpool, having won just two of the previous 13 PL fixtures (L6, D5), they will head into this tie full of confidence.

Possible Chelsea starting line-ups

Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are the only players unavailable for this game.

Edouard Mendy; Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen; Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Marcos Alonso, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho; Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Romelu Lukaku.

Prediction

Both teams are capable in good form and looking strong.

Liverpool look solid at the back, and with the front three, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Salah looking sharp, they look good enough to cause Chelsea some upset defensively.

Chelsea, meanwhile, cannot boast the defence at Klopp’s disposal but have a great goalkeeper in Edouard Mendy. Also, Lukaku has proven to be a handful and will have an exciting battle with Van Dijk at the back.