Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Chelsea vs Liverpool in the Premier
League on January 2; kick-off 4.30pm.
Team news
Chelsea defender Reece James's hamstring injury will hand the Blues a major
wing-back problem in Sunday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The England right wing-back faces an extended spell on the sidelines after
damaging his hamstring in Wednesday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton.
Chelsea were already without left wing-back Ben Chilwell, who is out for the
season with knee trouble, but Thiago Silva and Timo Werner trained fully on
Friday.
Liverpool have had three unnamed players test positive for Covid.
Midfielder Thiago Alcantara (hip) and forward Takumi Minamino, who has only
just returned to light training after a muscle injury, will not make the
trip to Stamford Bridge.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Roberto Firmino were absent from
training on Thursday while left-back Andy Robertson completes his
three-match ban so Kostas Tsimikas will deputise again.
Opta stats
● After losing four consecutive Premier League games against Liverpool
between 2019 and 2020, Chelsea are unbeaten in their last two against the
Reds (W1 D1), though both of these games have come at Anfield.
● Liverpool have won their last two Premier League away games against
Chelsea - only one visiting team has won three consecutively at Stamford
Bridge in the competition, with Blackburn Rovers doing so between 1993-94
and 1995-96.
● The away side won just 12.5% of the first 32 Premier League meetings
between Chelsea and Liverpool (W4 D7 L21). Since then, the visiting team has
won 41% of the 27 games between the sides (W11 D8 L8).
● Liverpool are winless in their three Premier League games in London this
season (D2 L1), with the Reds conceding as many goals in these games as they
had in their previous 12 visits to the capital in the competition (8).
● Since a 4-1 win at Manchester United in March 2009, Liverpool are winless
in six games against reigning European champions in all competitions (D3
L3). All three of their draws in that time have come against Chelsea.
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