Mauricio Pochettino begins his reign as Chelsea head coach with a blockbuster Premier League opener against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
The two English giants will endeavour to put aside their underwhelming top-flight efforts from last season and mount a stronger challenge for at least a top-four finish this time around.
Team News
Chelsea
- Chelsea has suffered a double injury blow ahead of the new campaign as Wesley Fofana and summer signing Christopher Nkunku are both ruled out for several months with knee injuries.
- Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke (both hamstring) and Armando Broja (fitness) did not feature in any games during pre-season. However, the trio have returned to training and may be selected in Pochettino’s matchday squad.
- Captain Reece James and Ben Chilwell should take up the full-back spots, while Axel Disasi will battle with Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill for a start at centre-back, and the same applies for Kepa Arrizabalaga and Robert Sanchez for the number one jersey.
- Nicolas Jackson is set to make his debut up front with Raheem Sterling and Mykhaylo Mudryk potentially playing on the flanks. Meanwhile a midfield triumvirate of Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka could line up in midfield.
Liverpool
- As for Liverpool, they will be without midfield duo Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic as they continue to recover from respective hip and adductor injuries.
- A 3-4-3 formation is set to be deployed by the Reds when in possession with Trent Alexander-Arnold operating as an inverted full-back, while new captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson should take up the remaining defensive spots.
- Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are both expected to make their competitive debuts in midfield and could be joined by either Curtis Jones or Harvey Elliot in the starting lineup.
- Former Chelsea man Mohamed Salah scored twice and registered seven assists in five pre-season matches and the Egyptian is expected to continue on the right side of a front three, while Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota to all battle for the remaining two starting spots in attack.
Possible Lineup
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; James, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Fernandez, Gallagher; Sterling, Chukwuemeka, Mudryk; Jackson
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Prediction Analysis
Both Chelsea and Liverpool have cancelled each other out in low-scoring affairs in recent years, and few would be surprised to see the spoils shared once again at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Nevertheless, an entertaining contest should be in store and there could be a greater level of goalmouth action this time around as the defences of both sides have been far from watertight in pre-season.
Our prediction is Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool