Chelsea still have work to do to secure a top-four finish as they bid to spoil Liverpool’s Premier League title party at Anfield tonight. Frank Lampard’s Blues sit third in the table, one point above Leicester City (fourth) and Manchester United (fifth) – and while a victory will seal Champions League football, two huge tests await.
First up for Chelsea is a visit to Anfield, where Liverpool will be lifting their long-awaited Premier League trophy with a glitzy post-match presentation on the Kop – and Jurgen Klopp will not want to taste defeat beforehand.
Arsenal showed last week that the Reds can be beaten with a good gameplan, but that defeat could in turn provoke a response from Klopp’s team – and Chelsea will do well to escape Anfield with anything other than a defeat.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool are expected to welcome back James Milner, who has missed the past two matches with a muscular injury.
The Reds have no new injury concerns, with Dejan Lovren, Xherdan Shaqiri and Takumi Minamino pushing for selection.
Chelsea retain the same available squad from their FA Cup win against Manchester United, with N’Golo Kante ruled out for a sixth match.
Christian Pulisic will be assessed, with a minor injury restricting him to a place on the bench at Wembley.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Chelsea’s only Premier League victory in their past 10 attempts against Liverpool was by a 1-0 scoreline at Stamford Bridge in May 2018 (D5, L4).
Liverpool can become the third Premier League club, after Arsenal and Blackburn, to do the Premier League double over Chelsea on four occasions.
Liverpool
The Reds need just one more victory to set a club record of 31 in a league season.
A Liverpool victory would equal the best Premier League home record for a season of 18 wins and a draw. It was previously set by Chelsea (2005-06), Manchester United (2010-11) and Manchester City (2011-12).
They have lost three of their past nine Premier League fixtures, following a run of three defeats in 79 matches.
Liverpool can lose consecutive league games for the first time since September 2015 under Brendan Rodgers.
Mo Salah is unbeaten in all 56 Premier League appearances at Anfield (W46, D10), including a 2-0 win with Chelsea in April 2014.
Roberto Firmino has gone 19 league appearances without a goal at Anfield since scoring in a 2-1 win against Tottenham on 31 March 2019. The Brazilian has since had 53 unsuccessful attempts on goal.
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Chelsea
Chelsea could lose 12 Premier League matches for only the second time since Roman Abramovich became owner in 2003.
The Blues have conceded 49 goals in the Premier League, the most of any team in the top half of the table.
Kepa has a save percentage of 55% in the division this season, the joint-lowest alongside Southampton’s Angus Gunn.
Chelsea have kept only one clean sheet in 18 Premier League away matches this season, their worst return in the top flight since 1991.
Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in six league and cup starts since football’s resumption.
PREDICTION: 2-0
