By Habeeb Kuranga
Liverpool will be entertaining Chelsea at Anfield in the first fixture of Gameweek 22, and The Ravens NG sports reporter, Habeeb Kuranga, has chronicled what to expect from one of the biggest fixtures in the Division.
Both teams have had a poor start to the season with their current position laying more evidence for this fact. This can be attributed to the varying degrees of injuries plaguing both sides, loss of form, and low confidence level amongst others. Liverpool and Chelsea are currently ninth and tenth on the log respectively. They are both on the same points tally, separated by goals difference.
It’s not a position their respective fans will enjoy considering the fact they played against each other in the finals of the two domestic cups (Carabao Cup and FA Cup) in England last season.
The Reds had difficult times in their last two league games where they lost against Brentford and Brighton in a miserable fashion, completely outplayed in all departments against the latter.
The Blues, on the other hand, got a win in a London derby when they locked horns with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, winning by a solitary goal. This came on the back of just a win in their previous 9 league games.
Here is what you need to know about one of the feisty fixtures in English football.
This fixture is going to be the 61st edition of the English Premier League. In the previous 60, Liverpool won 23, Chelsea won 21 while 16 have ended in draws.
Last season, both teams met four times, but no winner on those four occasions at the regular time. Even though Liverpool triumphed on two occasions, which was in the finals of the domestic cups. If this match ends in a draw, it would be the first time these two sides have played five consecutive draws in all competitions.
Chelsea has only won once at Anfield in the EPL since 2014. The last time the Blues enjoyed a win at the stadium was in March 2021 when Mason Mount’s strike sealed the victory for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
After losing against both Brentford and Brighton, conceding three goals in both matches, Liverpool could lose three successive league matches in a single calendar year since 1953, which was also the last time that they shipped three or more goals in a row in the top-flight.
Graham Potter will become the seventh different Chelsea manager Liverpool’s head coach, Jurgen Klopp has faced in England – and he’s only failed to register victories against Guus Hiddink (one draw) and Thomas Tuchel (four draws and a defeat).
In Chelsea’s last ten league games, they won just two, all coming from home. They have failed to register a win away from home during this period. Scoring just 8 goals on the road all season.
This fixture is going to be Jurgen Klopp’s 1000th professional match as a manager. In his previous 999 matches, he won 538, drawn 239 and lost 222 matches, with a 53.9 per cent win rate.
Liverpool’s possible line-up: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nuñez, Gakpo
Chelsea’s possible line-up: Kepa; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Hall; Ziyech, Havertz, Mount
