On Saturday in the "Premier League" there will be a clash between two teams showing better and better form in the country's championship: "Liverpool" will host "Chelsea" at home.
The start of this meeting: 19:30.
Tournament situation
After twelve rounds, "Chelsea" with 25 points occupies third place in the English Premier League, while "Liverpool" with three points less is in fifth place on the tournament table.
Teams' form
Both teams in the "Premier League" can boast winning streaks: "Chelsea" has won four consecutive country championship matches, while "Liverpool" has triumphed three times in a row, defeating their opponents by a three-goal margin each time.
However, in the middle of the week in the Champions League, the teams showed different results. "Chelsea" secured an easy 4-0 victory against "Qarabag", while "Liverpool" wasted a three-goal lead and played 3-3 against "Sevilla".
Teams' news
In this match, "Liverpool" could receive reinforcement in defense - team coach Jurgen Klopp revealed that there is a good chance we will see Joel Matip back in the starting lineup after his recent absence due to injury.
For the first time, we could also see another player returning from injury in the team – Adam Lallana, but this player has not yet reached the required level of fitness and it is likely that he will be left on the bench or not registered for the match. The situation with Emre Can is also unclear, and the "Reds" will decide on his participation in the match just before the game.
"Chelsea" coach also received good news - Victor Moses returned to the squad after several weeks of break.
Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi, Charly Musonda, and Kenedy will still not be able to help their team.
Predicted starting line-ups:
"Liverpool": Mignolet; Moreno, Lovren, Matip, Gomez; Coutinho, Can, Wijnaldum; Mane, Salah, Firmino.
"Chelsea": Courtois; Cahill, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Alonso, Kante, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Zappacosta; Morata, Hazard.
Interesting facts
"Liverpool" has not lost to "Chelsea" in five consecutive "Premier League" matches;
Meanwhile, "Chelsea" has not lost in their last five league games at Anfield stadium (2 wins, 3 draws). The last time they defeated their opponents at home was in May 2012, when they secured a 4-1 victory against "Liverpool";
This match will be the 55th meeting between these teams in this millennium;
For the first time this season, "Liverpool" has three consecutive wins in the "Premier League";
The "Reds" have not experienced any defeats at home this season, and out of their last 33 matches at Anfield Stadium, they only stumbled twice (20 wins, 11 draws);
In the current "Premier League" season, Jurgen Klopp's team has conceded only one goal at home in their last 22 matches - in the match against "Burnley";
Since October 2015, when J. Klopp took over the helm at "Liverpool", this team has the best balance in games against the top 6 English teams: in 22 matches, they secured 37 points - more than "Chelsea" who rank second in this indicator;
Mohamed Salah has already scored nine goals in twelve matches in the "Premier League" this season and is the top scorer for "Liverpool". During his entire career at the "Chelsea" team from 2014-2016, he only scored two goals;
Out of their last twelve matches in the "Premier League", "Chelsea" has secured ten wins. They were only defeated by "Manchester United" and "Crystal Palace" clubs;
Having secured four consecutive wins and three consecutive clean sheets, "Chelsea" achieved this for the first time this season;
This season, Spanish players in the ranks of the London club have already scored 15 goals. For comparison, as many goals were scored by Spanish players in only two out of twenty "La Liga" teams - "Real Sociedad" and "Valencia";
In his first eleven matches in the "Premier League", Alvaro Morata directly contributed to 12 goals for his team (8 goals and 4 assists);
Since Antonio Conte became the coach of "Chelsea", Eden Hazard has scored at least one goal in sixteen matches. The London club won all these matches.
