Liverpool, after their 2-0 victory away at Bramall Lane over the weekend would be hoping to turn around their home form when they face Chelsea in a crucial game in the race for the top four on Thursday night.
Recently, Liverpool have struggled in the league and have fallen to four defeats in their last five Premier League matches with the only victory in that time coming against Sheffield on Sunday.
Since Chelsea hired Thomas Tuchel, they have not lost a game and are currently on a run that includes some impressive results such as the victory over Atletico Madrid in a Champions League round-of-16, first-leg meeting.
Team news
Liverpool’s number one choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker will return to the fold tonight for the visit of Chelsea after sitting out their last match following the death of his father.
Fabinho also makes a return to the squad after a spell out due to injury while forward Diogo Jota is set for his first involvement in three months after a knee problem.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has to decide whether to keep the inexperienced center-back pairing of on-loan Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips after they became the 17th different central defensive pairing of the season at Bramall Lane.
For Chelsea, Thiago Silva is set to miss out with the Brazil defender not yet ready for match action after a thigh issue.
Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is fully fit after a minor knee niggle and will be in the squad.
Tammy Abraham, however, remains a doubt due to an ongoing ankle complaint that he has managed over a number of weeks.
Stats and facts heading into the match (Backed by Opta)
- Liverpool have won each of their last four Premier League meetings with Chelsea, netting 11 goals and conceding four. The only team to win five in a row against the Blues in the competition is Blackburn (7 between February 1993 and May 1996).
- Chelsea have lost their last two away league games against Liverpool, last losing more consecutively at Anfield between September 1992 and October 1997 (6).
- Of all the 15 fixtures between the six ever-present Premier League sides, only Everton vs Manchester United (1) has seen fewer goalless draws than matches between Chelsea and Liverpool (3).
- Chelsea have won just 10 per cent of their 10 Premier League games against Liverpool taking place between Monday-Friday (W1 D4 L5), compared to a 40 per cent Premier League win rate against the Reds at the weekend (W19 D10 L18).
- Liverpool have lost each of their last four Premier League home games, as many as they had in their first 100 at Anfield under manager Jürgen Klopp. The Reds have never lost five consecutive home games in their history, either in the league or all competitions.
- No team has benefitted from more own goals in the Premier League this season than Liverpool (3). The last campaign to see the Reds benefit from more own goals was in 2014-15 (4).
Prediction
Chelsea have lost their last two away league games against Liverpool but the current sides are different altogether.
Chelsea is a team high on confidence while Liverpool’s recent home record is woeful.
Chelsea have lost their last two away league games against Liverpool.
Verdict: Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea don kuku win now