In-form Chelsea seeks to remain in top-four fight
Chelsea can move to within two points of Tottenham Hotspur after Saturday's result.
Published : May 06, 2018 00:12 IST
Chelsea hosts Liverpool on Sunday in the final marquee fixture of the Premier League season, with a lot riding on it. The London club is fifth on the table and goes into the fixture six points adrift (having played a match less, however) of Liverpool, which needs one win from its remaining two fixtures to seal a top-four spot.
Chelsea’s form has picked up since the home loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the start of April: it has won against teams (Southampton, Burnley and Swansea City) it is expected to, but the feel-good factor is back ahead of this key fixture.
Liverpool has drawn its last two league fixtures, against West Brom and Stoke City. But it will go into this match buoyed by reaching the Champions League final, so we can expect a zestful, incisive and dynamic Liverpool that we have seen for much of this season to turn up at Stamford Bridge.
Team news
Chelsea
Ethan Ampadu (fractured ankle) has been ruled out of the season.
The involvement of Defender David Luiz (knee injury) and midfielder Danny Drinkwater (calf strain) is in doubt.
Marcos Alonso has served his three-match suspension for violent conduct and is back available for selection.
Liverpool
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee ligament injury) and Joel Matip (thigh injury) have been ruled out of the season.
Emre Can, who has been out of action since mid-March with a back injury, is unlikely to feature in the Liverpool matchday squad.
The involvement of Adam Lallana (hamstring injury) is in doubt.
Possible starting XIs
Chelsea (3-5-2): Thibaut Courtouis (GK); Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger; Victor Moses, N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Willian; Alvaro Morata, Olivier Giroud
Liverpool (4-3-3): Loris Karius (GK); Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Anderson, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum; Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah
Stats
- Liverpool has won on its last two visits to Stamford Bridge
- Chelsea has won only one (against Manchester United) of its four matches at home against the top-six teams this season