MX23RW : Friday, May 3 10:28:14| >> :60:2674:2674:
[monks data]
Attendance: 40,625
Chelsea logo
Premier League | Gameweek 7
Sep 29, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

1-1

Hazard (25')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Sturridge (89')

How Chelsea could line up against Liverpool

Ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, Sports Mole looks at how the Blues could line up.

Three days on from knocking Liverpool out of the EFL Cup, Chelsea can overtake their opponents in the Premier League should they win Saturday's latest clash at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard inspired a much-changed Blues side to a 2-1 win at Anfield in midweek, and now Maurizio Sarri's charges will be looking to grab top spot from the Reds, depending on how Manchester City fare against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Chelsea have three more matches to cram in before the second international break of the season, with this top-of-the-table showdown very much taking priority for Sarri.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Italian may set out his side for this weekend's meeting.

Possible CHE XI vs. LIV

Out: Marco van Ginkel (knee)
Doubtful: Andreas Christensen (knock), Antonio Rudiger (groin), Pedro (shoulder), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (shin)

Sarri is left sweating over the fitness of centre-back Rudiger, who has started all six of Chelsea's league games to date but limped off in the goalless draw with West Ham United.

Gary Cahill has profited from the German's absence, being given his first minutes of the season in the stalemate at the London Stadium and then playing a full part in the EFL Cup tie with Liverpool.

A knock sustained by Christensen at Anfield means that Cahill could well be Sarri's only realistic option alongside David Luiz, and there is further bad news as Pedro is still recovering from a shoulder injury picked up away to PAOK.

Sarri does at least have Willian and an in-form Hazard to call upon in his forward line, while Olivier Giroud - who has five goals in his last six Premier League starts against Liverpool - is now preferred to Alvaro Morata through the middle.

Elsewhere, the Italian has favoured a midfield triumvirate of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante in the league, which should remain the case for the visit of Liverpool.

Kante is no longer indispensable, and it could well be that a fit-again Cesc Fabregas gets the nod against more defence-minded teams in the future, but the Reds are not exactly known for sitting back and the Frenchman's battling qualities will be needed this weekend.

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this fixture

ID:337036: cacheID:337036:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5532:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ross Barkley in action with Naby Keita during the EFL Cup clash between Chelsea and Liverpool on September 26, 2018
Read Next:
Combined XI: Chelsea vs. Liverpool
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs341861067541360
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8Chelsea34149116559651
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!