The managerless Chelsea will host Liverpool following demoralising defeats for both clubs.
Team Form
Chelsea
After seven months at the helm, Graham Potter has been dismissed by the Chelsea management, led by Todd Boehly, following their disappointing 0-2 loss at home to Aston Villa.
In the meantime, Bruno Saltor has been appointed caretaker manager while the search for Potter’s successor gets underway. The Blues now sit 13 points adrift of a place in the top four, a significant margin to make up in the remaining games of the season.
The match against Aston Villa was a disaster for Chelsea, with almost everything going wrong for the home side. Furthermore, their recent form at Stamford Bridge could have been better, with only one win in their last five Premier League games. It’s not all bad news for Chelsea’s upcoming opponents, though, as they, too, have been struggling.
The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was tense during the match, and the situation has only worsened with Chelsea’s current position in the league table. As a club with such a prestigious reputation and financial power, it’s unacceptable for them to languish in eleventh place.
It remains to be seen who will be appointed as the new manager and whether they can turn things around for Chelsea in the short term. It’s a challenging time for the club, but they have the resources and talent to bounce back.
Chelsea PL Form: L W W D L
Liverpool
During Liverpool’s match against Manchester City at the Etihad, there was yet another instance of players surrounding the referee, with the Reds players upset that Rodri was not shown a second yellow card. Unfortunately, Liverpool’s fortunes have remained the same during the international break, as they have now lost their last three games, all of which were away from home.
The Reds have struggled on the road, losing five of their last seven Premier League away games. These results have caused them to drop to eighth place in the league table, with Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford overtaking them following their thrilling 3-3 draw at the Amex.
Liverpool’s next challenge will be visiting Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, who themselves have experienced a difficult start to the season. It remains to be seen if Liverpool can turn their fortunes around and climb up the table, but they have the talent and determination to do so.
Liverpool PL Form: D W W L L
Squad Report
Chelsea
Unfortunately, Armando Broja (knee), Cesar Azpilicueta (head), and Thiago Silva (knee) will not be able to play for Chelsea this week. Furthermore, Edouard Mendy (finger) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (back) may also not be fit enough to return to the pitch.
However, there is some hope for Raheem Sterling to appear against his former club, as he is working to recover from a hamstring issue. Additionally, Wesley Fofana could be in contention to return to the squad for the upcoming matches.
Liverpool
Unfortunately, long-term absentees Calvin Ramsay (knee) and Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) are still out of action. Naby Keita could also miss the rest of the season due to a new muscular tissue.
However, there is some good news on the injury front, as Luis Diaz has returned to team training after his knee surgery. Despite his progress, he will be considered for selection later.
In addition, Thiago Alcantara is making steady progress in his recovery from a hip injury and could return to the pitch in a couple of days.
Chelsea’s expected starting lineup:
Kepa; Badiashile, Koulibaly, Fofana; James, Fernandez, Kante, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz; Felix
Liverpool’s expected starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Fabinho; Salah, Firmino, Jota; Nunez
Head to Head
Tuesday’s game will mark the 194th meeting between the two clubs.
Of the previous 193 encounters, Chelsea has emerged victorious in 65 games, while Liverpool has won 84 matches. The remaining 44 games between the two teams have ended in draws.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Tuesday, April 04
Time: 07:00 pm, UTC
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Prediction
As Liverpool and Chelsea prepare to face off in their upcoming match, both teams need help finding form, making it difficult to predict the full-time result.
With neither team looking particularly dominant, the odds of a victory for either side appear to be roughly 50-50.
Interestingly, during their previous five meetings, the two clubs have yet to see a winner emerge in 90 minutes. This streak of draws could continue in their upcoming match.
