Liverpool remain on the search for their first top-flight win of the new calendar year as they welcome rivals Chelsea to Anfield in Saturday’s high-billed contest.
It is a game between the ninth and tenth in the league standings, with both teams failing to impress so far this season, as they languish outside the top four and are in danger of missing out on European football next term.
Jurgen Klopp’s 1000th match as a manager comes at a time when there are questions marks over his future on Merseyside with his players unable to deliver the results since the turn of the year barring the win over Wolves in the FA Cup third round replay last time out.
The Reds’ last Premier League outing was way at Brighton with the result- a 3-0 defeat for Klopp’s men who were outclassed by the home side on all fronts and meant that for the first time since 1993 that Liverpool had suffered two defeats on the bounce in league football at the start of the calendar year.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have faced a fair share of troubles of their own on the pitch despite the heavy spending spree overseen by the owners this month as the Blues, under new manager Graham Potter, seek a much-needed turnaround of fortunes with the new faces coming through the doors at Stamford Bridge.
Potter’s men had to rely upon Thiago Silva and Kepa Arrizabalaga in their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace with a strike from Kai Havertz just about getting them over the line to clinch the three points up for grabs in the derby clash.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Saturday 21 January 2023
Time: 2 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Darwin Nunez is expected to be deemed fit in time for the game against Chelsea with the summer signing likely to lead the line for the hosts Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk remains a notable injury-enforced absentee at Anfield and with the Dutch centre-back sidelined, Klopp should have Ibrahima Konate pairing up with Joel Matip in the heart of the backline.
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are the injured attacking options for Liverpool who will be glad to utilise the services of new boy Cody Gakpo on the left as Nunez nears his return to the squad.
Kostas Tsimikas picked up a knock to the back in the win over Wolves but the Greek international was always expected to give way for Andy Robertson for the Chelsea clash.
KEY BATTLE
Darwin Nunez vs Mykhaylo Mudryk
Nunez is yet to silence the critics who leave no stone unturned questioning the hefty fee Liverpool paid to sign from Benfica last summer only for the Uruguayan striker to endure an inconsistent season so far in front of the goal.
The 23-year-old will be key to Liverpool’s attacking endeavors while Chelsea’s big-money January signing Mykhaylo Mudryk could be included in the XI following Kai Havertz’s absence from training on Wednesday as the former will look to impress on his debut.
MATCH PREDICTION
We expect Liverpool to put a stop to their two-match losing run in top flight action against a struggling Chelsea side despite Jurgen Klopp’s men being far from their usual best on the pitch.
Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea
