Liverpool
take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon knowing that a point
will virtually seal a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp's side will arrive in west London in buoyant mood having
progressed to the Champions League final against Real Madrid by getting the
better of Roma 7-6 on aggregate in midweek.
The Liverpool manager has likened the weekend clash with Chelsea to a
Champions League semi-final.
"Both games are very, very important," said the German. "I have said it
before. How I see, we have two semis again against Chelsea and Brighton.
"There is no chance to think of anything else and then we have two weeks to
prepare for this game. It is not for three, it sounds crazy to prepare for
this game now.
"In the end, we need to be ready for Chelsea, it is the same situation as
Roma. It is clear we can make life easier for us if we get a result.
"It is always a difficult place, but we will try to be 100 per cent ready."
Meanwhile, Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte thinks Sunday's clash could be a
good time to play Liverpool after their exertions in Rome on Wednesday
night.
Conte's Chelsea, who are currently five points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur,
are chasing fourth place in the Premier League standings.
"This could be a good opportunity for us," the Italian said. "As I said a
lot of times in the last three games, if we want to keep the hope alive we
have to win. We have to get three points.
"Liverpool are a good team. It won't be easy, but if we want to keep alive
the hope, we have to try to win, to get three points on Sunday."
Team news
Chelsea will have left wing-back Marcos Alonso available to face Liverpool
after the Spaniard served his three-match ban.
However, both David Luiz and Ethan Ampadu are still out with injury.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are still missing Joel Matip, Emre Can, Adam Lallana
and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with injury, while defender Joe Gomez is also a
doubt after missing the trip to Rome.
Opta stats
Chelsea are winless in their last six Premier League meetings with Liverpool
(D3 L3). They last had a longer winless run against them in the top-flight
between 1985 and 1990 (10 games).
Liverpool have won their last two Premier League games at Stamford Bridge -
the only side to win three in a row away at the ground in the competition
were Blackburn, between 1993-94 and 1995-96.
Chelsea are winless in their last six Premier League meetings with Liverpool
(D3 L3). They last had a longer winless run against them in the top-flight
between 1985 and 1990 (10 games).
Liverpool have won their last two Premier League games at Stamford Bridge -
the only side to win three in a row away at the ground in the competition
were Blackburn, between 1993-94 and 1995-96.
The Reds have not failed to score in two consecutive Premier League games
since August 2015, vs Arsenal and West Ham when Brendan Rodgers was manager.
Charlie's prediction
Liverpool looked on their knees on Wednesday night and they will have to
make changes because that team will be exhausted.
It also looks like Antonio Conte's final home game, which he'll want to win,
and these players are playing for their FA Cup final places.
He's got Cesc Fabregas working better, higher up the pitch and linking up
better with the striker and Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud, who is proving
his doubters wrong again.
Charlie predicts: 2-1 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
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