Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
Chelsea are set to play host to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, in a postponed Premier League clash between the last English clubs to have sat on the European throne to date, the two clubs that haven’t been anywhere near the heights their respective quality should be taking them to.
Chelsea
The big news at Stamford Bridge right now is the sacking of Graham Potter. Certainly expected with the results and table placement in mind, but still a bit surprising given the support the club hierarchy voiced throughout the campaign for the now former manager.
For the time being, the team will be under the command of assistant coach Bruno Saltor, but the club are being linked with a number of currently unemployed high-calibre managers. The name of former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is being spoken the loudest at this point, but whoever succeeds Potter in the hot seat, Saltor will be the one leading the team in this game.
It is widely believed that the last two results to date, a 2-2 draw against Everton and a 0-2 defeat to Aston Villa, both at home, are the reason for the club’s decision to relieve Potter of duty. Before that, they lost 2-0 away to Tottenham Hotspur, beat Leeds United at home by 1-0, beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash, and beat Leicester City away by 1-3.
Incidentally, Leicester have also sacked their manager Brendan Rodgers since, the man who assisted Jose Mourinho at Chelsea for a while and managed Liverpool for over three years.
The defeat to Aston Villa saw Chelsea drop out of the top half of the Premier League table, a truly disappointing state of things after the club spent over £600 million on new players in the last two transfer window. Sitting currently 11th with just 38 points, 12 less than Manchester United in fourth and with six teams in between, the Blues have all but said goodbye to Champions League qualification for next season; that is, unless they somehow manage to win it this term. But for that, they first need to get past current holders Real Madrid.
Team News
As he works on putting together a team to face Liverpool, Saltor won’t be able to call upon strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (back) and Armando Broja (knee), defenders Thiago Silva (knee) and Cesar Azpilicueta (head), as well as goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (wrist).
On the other hand, former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and defender Wesley Fofana (both hamstring) should be back in contention.
Kepa Arrizabalaga will be in goal. Presuming he’s ready to play, Fofana should join Benoit Badiashile and Kalidou Koulibaly in the back line of three. N’Golo Kante is expected to partner Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park, with Reece James on the right and Ben Chilwell on the left. Kai Havertz should lead the line upfront, supported by Liverpool-linked Mason Mount and Joao Felix.
Liverpool
Things haven’t been quite that bad for Liverpool, but they haven’t been much better either. Having competed on all four fronts down to the last throw of the dice last term, Jurgen Klopp’s team are now in eighth place, with three points more and a game in hand on Chelsea. However, they don’t look likely to qualify for the Champions League either, and unlike Chelsea, they don’t have the chance to win the competition this term anymore, having faced Real Madrid in the round of 16.
Apart from the impressive 7-0 thrashing of arch-rivals Manchester United and a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, both at home, the form of the Merseysiders has been woeful recently. Their last-six run in all competitions also includes a goalless draw away to Crystal Palace, a 1-0 defeat away to Bournemouth, a 1-0 defeat in the second leg against Real in Madrid, and a 4-1 thrashing suffered at the hands of Manchester City at the Etihad.
Asked for a comment on the Potter and Rodgers sackings in his pre-match press conference, Klopp admitted he felt that only his previous achievements with the club are keeping him in the job. He also revealed that the club are working hard behind the scenes on strengthening their ranks at the end of the season, and apart from Chelsea’s Mason Mount, they’ve been linked most strongly with Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jesper Lindstrom more recently.
Team News
Klopp has been anxiously waiting for the return of Luis Diaz, who has been absent through a knee injury for five months now. The Colombian winger has returned to team training, but he isn’t expected to play until next week. Midfielders Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Naby Keita (muscle) also remain out for the time being. Midfielder Stefan Bajcetic and defender Calvin Ramsey won’t play again this season.
Alisson Becker will be between the posts, with Ibrahima Konate joining Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold will start on the right defensive flank, but Andy Robertson could make way for Kostas Tsimikas on the left. Fabinho will anchor the midfield, joined by Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott most likely.
Even without Diaz, Klopp has plenty of options upfront, and maybe it’s time for Roberto Firmino to get a start, attacking through the middle, with Darwin Nunez on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.
Conclusion
With both teams seeking to respond strongly after disappointments they put their fans through at the weekend, it’s likely to be a difficult match for both, and a share of the spoils seems like a reasonable outcome to expect.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
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