Two clubs who have fallen from grace this season meet at Stamford Bridge as manager-less Chelsea and winless Liverpool look to revive themselves with a win in midweek.
CHE vs LIV Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 4 April 2023 / Wednesday, 5 April 2023
Time: 21:00 (CET) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
CHE vs LIV Match Preview
Graham Potter’s time at Chelsea finally came to a close after the side went 2-0 to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge this weekend. Tenure of seven months of his five-year contract never looked convincing as the board realized that fans are now turning on the ownership with the expected progress not made this season after his appointment. They had to back off from their faith in the manager which dragged on long enough for the club to drop out from the top-four contention even with record spending done in the transfer windows. Bruno Saltor is temporarily in charge until the board decides on a new face for the hot seat. Chelsea are placed 11th in the Premier League table, 13 points behind a Champions League spot and with just three wins in 13 games this year. Whoever takes the job next will have to make a drastic change in the proceedings or the club risks slumping down further under the present ownership. For now, the Blues will try to avoid going winless in three straight home games in the Premier League with Liverpool knocking on their door. The reverse fixture between the sides ended 0-0 at Anfield with the build-up to that game almost carrying the same tone as this one.
Jurgen Klopp admitted in his press conference that his past achievements at Liverpool are what kept his job secured till now otherwise the German could have faced the axe like Potter. While sacking will be the last option in the board’s mind for their gallant manager in search of a rebuild, the Reds urgently need one going through a calamitous season. The 4-1 humbling by Manchester City, a fixture which carried title aspirations in the past seasons, at the Etihad dropped Liverpool to eighth place with the gap from the top-four extending to eight points. Even though they have a game in hand it will matter less if the slump continues. Their poor away form continued with now standing at three wins all season and eight losses which are the most suffered in Klopp’s time at the club. Things do not go better for them as they are in a crunching schedule with Chelsea to face next in another away fixture before welcoming leaders Arsenal at Anfield next Sunday. The Blues may be sharing a similar season with the Reds but a sign of freshness could trouble the visitors here as they search for their first win in the last five meetings all ended in a draw.
Recent Form (all competitions)
CHE: LDWWW
LIV: LLLWW
Recent Form (Premier League)
CHE: LDWWL
LIV: LLWWD
CHE vs LIV Team News
Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana missed the loss against Aston Villa for Chelsea last weekend due to injuries but they could be back for this midweek clash. Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta remain injured while Armando Broja is out for the season. For Liverpool, Luiz Diaz remains out of contention despite resuming training as is midfielder Thiago Alcantara. Naby Keita and Stefan Bajcetic are also absent leading to a shortage of options for the Reds in the middle of the park. James Milner could make his 604th appearance in the Premier League overtaking Frank Lampard in the all-time list.
CHE vs LIV Head to head
CHE won: 65
Drawn: 19
LIV won: 84
(In overall meetings)
CHE vs LIV Predicted Lineups
CHE: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Benoit Badiashile; Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell; Mason Mount, Joao Felix; Kai Havertz
LIV: Alisson Becker; Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas; James Milner, Fabinho Jordan Henderson; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota
CHE vs LIV Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Alisson (8)
DEF: Trent (8.5), James (9), Chilwell (8.5)
MID: Salah (9), E Fernandez (8.5), Kovacic (8), Sterling (8)
FW: Nunez (9), Havertz (9), Felix (8)
Vice-captain: Kai Havertz
Captain: Mohamed Salah
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