After fighting off a nail-biting challenge from Leeds United in their opening fixture of the 2020-21 Premier League season, Sunday’s afternoon game at Stamford Bridge will see the defending champions Liverpool FC renew their on-the-run rivalry with Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side.
A trip to West London for the Reds comes on the back of an extremely narrow 4-3 victory against Marco Bielsa’s Leeds, a club playing English top-flight football for the first time in 16 years. A hat-trick from Mohammad Salah, including two spot-kicks, was required by the Merseyside giants to hand a defeat to the Whites.
Leeds made the most of Liverpool FC’s defensive weakness last weekend and that too at Anfield, a known fortress for the club. The Van Dijk-led backline looked surprisingly shaky and Roberto Firmino’s rustiness in front of the goal was evident to the eagle-eyed supporters.
Chelsea are by no means an opposition team that would pose an easy task for Jurgen Klopp’s men to walk away from Stamford Bridge with three points in the bag. The Blues’ won their first match of the new league campaign against Brighton with a 3-1 scoreline, courtesy to a splendid performance by the new signings, barring Kai Havertz.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Sunday 19 September
Time: 2 PM GMT
Venue: Stamford Bridge
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea would be unable to call upon the services of new summer recruits Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell due to the pair being sidelined for the near future.
However, Frank Lampard could give a start to skipper Cesar Azpilicueta who would be fit to play against Liverpool FC, having missed the Brighton game last weekend.
As for the visitors, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain remains the only long-term absentee and will be in no position to make the travelling squad for the game at Stamford Bridge.
Xherdan Shaqiri did stage a return to first-team training earlier this week and could feature on the bench if Jurgen Klopp does make the decision of relegating teenage prospect Curtis Jones to the reserves.
