Chelsea v Liverpool: Premier League – live! | Football

Team views

Where to start with all that? Thiago Silva is fit to start for Chelsea, which is such a boost for Thomas Tuchel. Mateo Kovacic is preferred to Jorginho in midfield and the ghostly Kai Havertz returns up front. In all there are five changes from the 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday: Thiago, Trevoh Chalobah, N’Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso and Havertz replace Andreas Christensen, Reece James, Jorginho, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Romelu Lukaku.

Caoimhin Kelleher replaces Alisson in goal for Liverpool, and Ibrahima Konate covers for Joel Matip. The only other change is in midfield, where James Milner is preferred to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Chelsea (3-4-3) Mendy; Chalobah, Thiago, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Havertz, Pulisic.
Substitutes: Kepa, Sarr, Jorginho, Barkley, Saul, Ziyech, Vale, Hall, Hudson-Odoi.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Fabinho, Milner; Salah, Jota, Mane.
Substitutes: Pitaluga, Adrian, Beck, Gomez, N Williams, Morton, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones.

Referee Mr Anthony Taylor.

“Happy new year!” says Ryan Grubb. “Been on the champagne here in the States since the sun came up. Might as well enjoy the pain. I for some foolish reason believe that the winner here will still give us some semblance of a title race. Up until they both lose at the Etihad anyway. Here’s to avoiding a draw at all costs!”

I do hope, if it’s level going into injury time, both teams switch to the emergency 0-0-11 formation. We all thought Alisson’s goal at West Brom last season was a JFK moment; wait till Caoimhín Kelleher roofs one from 35 yards today.

Big Rom’s big-game woes have taken a new twist

Hello and welcome to live, unbiased coverage of Chelsea v Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. There are two conflicting sales pitches for this game. Depending on your perspective, and possibly your allegiance, it’s either a title-race eliminator or a glorified second-place playoff.

Chelsea are 11 points behind the leaders Manchester City with this game in hand; Liverpool are 12 adrift with two in hand. A draw is no use to anyone except the bookies and the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG), so this should be a lively affair with a whiff of desperation.

That desperation is likely to be compounded by the ill health of both squads. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is without Reece James, Ben Chilwell and possibly Thiago Silva from his best XI. Romelu Lukaku is also absent with a mouth problem.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be without Jurgen Klopp, who has Covid, as well as Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and possibly Alisson. He and Roberto Firmino missed training on Thursday, triggering speculation that they have also tested positive for Covid.

All will be revealed when the teams are announced at 3.30pm. It’s more exciting than the actual football, you know.

Kick off 4.30pm.