By Alex Roberts
There have been blended fortunes in the course of the midweek Champions League fixtures. Chelsea earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over José Mourninho’s Benfica, whereas Liverpool had been on the opposite finish of 1-0 outcome throughout their journey to Galatasaray.
Even so, Slot’s facet sit comfortably atop the Premier League and might be wanting to avenge final season’s 3-1 defeat on this fixture, as they give the impression of being to maintain their title defence on monitor.
The place have all of the centre backs gone?
Following Trevoh Chalobah’s pink card within the 3-1 defeat to Brighton final week, Chelsea might be with out 4 of the 5 pure centre backs they’ve on their books (not together with Axel Disasi) because of harm or suspension.
Wesley Fofana is out with a concussion after he was CLARTED by goalkeeper and teammate Filip Jörgensen in Chelsea’s edgy 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Lincoln, whereas everybody’s favorite unc, Tosin Adarabioyo, has a calf harm.
It could take an precise miracle for Levi Colwill to return from his ACL harm in time for the sport towards Liverpool, so it’s possible Benoît Badiashile, who impressed within the win over Benfica, might be partnered by Jorrell Hato within the coronary heart of defence.
Chelsea’s 118 playing cards – 114 yellow, 4 pink – because the begin of the 2024-25 Premier League season is greater than some other group, shedding any extra gamers for any purpose may show devastating for Enzo Maresca.
What’s up with Florian Wirtz?
The £116 million German playmaker has caught lots of slack for not hitting the bottom operating since making his record-breaking transfer to Anfield, and sure, he’s but to register a purpose involvement, however that doesn’t inform the entire story.
Wirtz has created 21 probabilities throughout all competitions to date this season, the joint most for any Premier League membership alongside Everton’s Jack Grealish, so to say he’s not doing his job correctly is inaccurate.
At Leverkusen, Wirtz operated because the left-sided playmaker in Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, a job that gave him license to roam throughout the ultimate third however noticed him simplest drifting in from the left. Below Slot’s 4-2-3-1, nevertheless, the image is totally different.
Now positioned centrally and flanked by two pure wingers, usually Cody Gakpo and the ever-reliable Mohamed Salah, Wirtz now not enjoys fairly the identical freedom he as soon as had in Germany. Basically, he has to be taught a completely new position.
Sorry Chelsea followers, he’s most likely gonna break his duck now we’ve talked him up.
Staff information
Away from the already talked about centre-back disaster, Chelsea might be with out Dário Essugo (thigh), Cole Palmer (groin), and Liam Delap (thigh), whereas Andrey Santos stays a doubt after selecting up a knock.
As for Liverpool, Slot confirmed that Alisson will miss this one after selecting up a knee harm within the defeat to Galatasaray, whereas the extremely unlucky Giovanni Leoni is unlikely to placed on that well-known pink shirt any time quickly after injuring his ACL in his debut.
Federico Chiesa may return, though it’s unlikely the winger would begin if he options in any respect.
Prediction
Given Chelsea’s ongoing harm disaster, they might be fortunate to get something from Liverpool. We’re going to go along with a snug 3-0 Liverpool win.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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