Emre
Can is a doubt but Adam Lallana could feature as Liverpool host Chelsea in
the Premier League on Saturday.
Midfielder Can has a muscular injury that could see him miss out, but
Lallana might make his first appearance of the season.
"Adam is on the way. We have to see how we handle that," said Liverpool
manager Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have won four of their last five games in all competitions, with
the only setback coming on Tuesday when they blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 at
Sevilla in the Champions League.
"It will be a different game against Chelsea," said Klopp. "It will be at
Anfield and if we can create a special atmosphere that will help for sure.
"Our job is to stay really consistent. Now it's Chelsea, what a team,
champions of last year, it will be a really tough job to do but we have
nothing else to do."
Chelsea eased to a 4-0 Champions League win over Qarabag on Wednesday as
they secured their sixth win in their last seven matches.
Antonio Conte's side start the weekend nine points behind Premier League
leaders Manchester City.
Team news
Klopp said Lallana and Joel Matip are both giving "good signs" in their bids
to return to full fitness, and could be involved against Chelsea, but Can is
a doubt.
Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses is available following a six-week absence
with a hamstring injury. He is expected to begin as a substitute against his
former club, having spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Anfield.
Alvaro Morata and Andreas Christensen are expected to return in place of
Willian and David Luiz as boss Antonio Conte rotates his options, with
striker Michy Batshuayi (ankle), forward Charly Musonda (knee) and the
left-sided Kenedy (undisclosed) out.
Opta stats
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings with
Chelsea (W2 D3), though both of those victories have come at Stamford
Bridge.
Chelsea haven't lost any of their last five Premier League visits to Anfield
(W2 D3), since a 1-4 loss in May 2012.
This will be the 55th meeting between these sides in all competitions since
the turn of the century - the most played fixture among sides within
England's top four tiers.
Both teams have scored in 11 of the last 12 Premier League meetings between
these sides, with the exception being Chelsea's 2-0 win at Anfield in April
2014.
Merson's prediction
I was sitting down with Ian Wright the other day, watching the Sevilla v
Liverpool game before The Debate, and I said at half-time it would be 3-3.
He said: 'No chance!'
I said: 'Wrighty, they play the same way at 3-0 up and 3-0 down!'
They're still all bombing forward at 3-0, they can't defend, and Sevilla had
good chances in the first half.
If both teams play to the best of their ability, Chelsea will win. They have
better players: better defenders, and there's not much in it attacking-wise.
And Liverpool don't have a Cesc Fabregas to properly hurt you.
I have an inkling this will be a draw at Anfield, however, and that does
neither side any favours.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
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