Chelsea vs. Liverpool
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick off: 4:30PM
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea take on visitors Liverpool in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge as the Blues aim to keep alive their faint hopes of clinching a place in the top four this term.
As for the visiting Reds, Liverpool are in a commanding position in third place and are heading to London having recently qualified for the final of the Champions League.
The Blues’ late bid for a Champions League finish has been ignited courtesy of a few Spurs hiccups in April, and Conte’s men are now five points behind Tottenham with three games left to play.
It will likely take a minor miracle for Spurs to give up fourth spot, but all that Conte’s charges can do is secure maximum points from their final games to ensure that they are in a strong position to pounce should Mauricio Pochettino’s men flounder in the closing stages of the campaign.
Chelsea are now five games unbeaten since losing out to Spurs in the Premier League at the start of April.
Following the home loss, Conte’s men have gone on to pick up three victories and a draw, including an FA Cup semi-final win that has established a mouthwatering clash with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at Wembley.
Should Conte’s charges want to keep the top-four race alive, Chelsea will need to improve on some troubling form against Liverpool in the Premier League.
The Blues have not beaten the Anfield club in six games running in the top flight, drawing three and losing three against the Reds.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s men booked their place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2007 courtesy of a 7-6 aggregate win over Roma, capping off a season-defining run in Europe’s elite competition.
Heading to the Bridge, Klopp will be well aware of his favourable fortunes in south London since arriving in the Premier League, having won both of his league visits to Chelsea.
Should Liverpool win today, Klopp would become the first visiting manager to win on his opening three trips to Chelsea.
Mohamed Salah will be returning to Premier League action as he faces his former employers.
The Egyptian has 31 league goals this term and is four ahead of Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot.
Chelsea possible XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger, Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso, Hazard, Willian, Giroud.
Liverpool possible XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Mane, Firmino, Salah.