Preview: Chelsea face Liverpool in the big Saturday evening game
Both Chelsea and Liverpool head into this one at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in need of a positive result. The hosts are winless in their previous three Premier League games, while Arne Slot’s Galacticos have hit somewhat of a speedbump.
By Alex Roberts
There were mixed fortunes during the midweek Champions League fixtures. Chelsea earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over José Mourninho’s Benfica, while Liverpool were on the other end of 1-0 result during their trip to Galatasaray.
Even so, Slot’s side sit comfortably atop the Premier League and will be eager to avenge last season’s 3-1 defeat in this fixture, as they look to keep their title defence on track.
Where have all the centre backs gone?
Following Trevoh Chalobah’s red card in the 3-1 defeat to Brighton last week, Chelsea will be without four of the five natural centre backs they have on their books (not including Axel Disasi) due to injury or suspension.
Wesley Fofana is out with a concussion after he was CLARTED by goalkeeper and teammate Filip Jörgensen in Chelsea’s edgy 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Lincoln, while everyone’s favourite unc, Tosin Adarabioyo, has a calf injury.
It would take an actual miracle for Levi Colwill to return from his ACL injury in time for the game against Liverpool, so it’s likely Benoît Badiashile, who impressed in the win over Benfica, will be partnered by Jorrell Hato in the heart of defence.
Chelsea’s 118 cards – 114 yellow, four red – since the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season is more than any other team, losing any more players for any reason could prove devastating for Enzo Maresca.
What is up with Florian Wirtz?
The £116 million German playmaker has caught a lot of slack for not hitting the ground running since making his record-breaking move to Anfield, and yes, he’s yet to register a goal involvement, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Wirtz has created 21 chances across all competitions so far this season, the joint most for any Premier League club alongside Everton’s Jack Grealish, so to say he’s not doing his job properly is incorrect.
At Leverkusen, Wirtz operated as the left-sided playmaker in Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, a role that gave him license to roam across the final third but saw him most effective drifting in from the left. Under Slot’s 4-2-3-1, however, the picture is different.
Now positioned centrally and flanked by two natural wingers, typically Cody Gakpo and the ever-reliable Mohamed Salah, Wirtz no longer enjoys quite the same freedom he once had in Germany. Essentially, he has to learn an entirely new role.
Sorry Chelsea fans, he’s probably gonna break his duck now we’ve talked him up.
Team news
Away from the already mentioned centre-back crisis, Chelsea will be without Dário Essugo (thigh), Cole Palmer (groin), and Liam Delap (thigh), while Andrey Santos remains a doubt after picking up a knock.
As for Liverpool, Slot confirmed that Alisson will miss this one after picking up a knee injury in the defeat to Galatasaray, while the incredibly unfortunate Giovanni Leoni is unlikely to put on that famous red shirt any time soon after injuring his ACL in his debut.
Federico Chiesa could return, although it’s unlikely the winger would start if he features at all.
Prediction
Given Chelsea’s ongoing injury crisis, they would be lucky to get anything from Liverpool. We’re going to go with a comfortable 3-0 Liverpool win.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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