Team
news, key stats and predictions ahead of Chelsea vs Liverpool in the Premier
League.
Team news
Liverpool striker Divock Origi could be fit to face Chelsea only a week
after hobbling out of Liverpool's win over Newcastle. Alisson and Naby Keita
remain sidelined, although both players have returned to training.
Antonio Rudiger remains a doubt after missing out on Chelsea's defeat by
Valencia in midweek, and had a scan on Friday, with Mason Mount another
concern for Frank Lampard, although the Blues boss did not rule him out
despite a nasty-looking injury suffered in that Champions League game.
N'Golo Kante could return, as could Emerson Palmieri.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all out.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won just one of their last nine Premier League meetings with
Liverpool (D5 L3), beating them 1-0 in May 2018 thanks to an Olivier Giroud
strike.
Having won just one of their first 16 Premier League away games against
Chelsea (D4 L11), Liverpool have won five of their last 11 at Stamford
Bridge in the competition (W5 D3 L3).
In all competitions, Chelsea have only failed to score in one of their last
20 meetings with Liverpool, in a 0-2 defeat at Anfield last season.
Chelsea have beaten the side starting the day top of the Premier League on
18 occasions - three more than any other side.
Liverpool have lost just once in their last 44 Premier League matches (W36
D7 L1) and are unbeaten in their last 22 (W18 D4 L0), their longest such run
in PL history. In fact, Liverpool last went 23 league games unbeaten in
November 1990 (23).
Chelsea have only suffered one defeat in their last 24 Premier League games
at Stamford Bridge (W13 D10 L1) and have avoided losing in their last 11 (W6
D5).
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has won two of his four Premier League away
games against Chelsea - no Liverpool manager has won three games in the
competition at Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard will be the 16th different Chelsea manager to face Liverpool
in the Premier League - none of the last six have won their first league
meeting with the Reds, since Carlo Ancelotti did so in October 2009 (D3 L3).
Chelsea's last 11 Premier League goals have been scored by English players -
excluding own goals, this is their joint-longest run of English scorers,
also scoring 11 consecutively between September 1993 and January 1994.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
I think Frank Lampard wants to attack, which opens up the counter-attack
scenario for Liverpool. They both got bad results in Europe through the
week, they are making mistakes that they didn't make last season and you can
get at their defence.
Pedro and Willian behind Tammy Abraham is a trio of danger. They need to
find the killer pass in this game, which I think they will. Liverpool will
pin them in when they can, but it will be an open game of football, which
will see Liverpool drop their 100 per cent record.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
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