Premier League football returns after the October international break and we have a huge game to look forward to as Liverpool entertain Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
New Reds boss Arne Slot has enjoyed an excellent start to life on Merseyside after replacing Jurgen Klopp in the summer. Liverpool currently sit top of the table on 18 points having won six of their seven games so far while they’ve also won all their Champions League and League Cup games, so things couldn’t have gone much better for Slot.
The only set-back came with a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest last month, but Liverpool responded brilliantly to that defeat by winning their next six games in all competitions before the international break.
Slot will be hoping to pick up where they left off but the Dutchman can expect a tough test against a resurgent Chelsea side this weekend.
After two years of disappointment in West London, Enzo Maresca’s appointment as manager has rejuvenated the club and Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League table after taking 14 points from their opening seven matches.
Following wins over Bournemouth, West Ham and Brighton, the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw against 10-men Nottingham Forest last time out, so Maresca will be hoping to get back to winning ways at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
How to get tickets
Match going fans can buy tickets to Liverpool games via the club website or through official ticket resellers such as Go Sport Travel.
For fans coming from afar, you can also book packages that include travel and accommodation to make your trip to Anfield easy and stress-free.
Team news
Liverpool will be without the services of goalkeeper Alisson Becker after he was ruled out for around six weeks with a hamstring injury that he sustained before the break. Back-up goalkeeper Caoimhim Kelleher is set to deputise between the sticks against Chelsea on Sunday as well as upcoming games against Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa and RB Leipzig.
Virgil van Dijk returned home early from international duty after being sent off while playing for Holland last week so he’ll be fresh to start. The same can be said of Mohamed Salah after he was rested for Egypt’s game against Mauritania.
Alexis MacAllister is expected to be fit after recovering from a knock that he picked up against Crystal Palace earlier this month.
Harvey Elliot remains out for Liverpool as he’s still recovering from an ankle injury while summer signing Federico Chiesa is also a doubt with an unknown knock that’s kept him out recently.
As for Chelsea, they’ll be without Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana due to suspension after they collected five bookings this season. Tosin Adarabioyo and Renato Veiga are likely to step in to the defence.
Reece James has stepped up his recovery from injury but this game will come too soon for the full-back. Levi Colwill is expected to recover from a knock to start in defence while Noni Madueke is also set to shake-off a knock.
Prediction
These are usually great games to watch and we expect another exciting match-up on Sunday. Chelsea are certainly heading in the right path under Maresca and are a far better team than they have been over the past two seasons.
However, Slot has got Liverpool playing his style of football straight away and they look to be a formidable force this campaign under the Dutchman. With the likes of Mo Salah and Luis Diaz firing, we predict a home win. Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
