CHELSEA VS LIVERPOOL: PREDICTED LINEUP

Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge tomorrow with a spate of Covid cases amongst staff and players. Manager Jürgen Klopp and three first team players are in isolation and will miss the clash. We look at how the Reds could line up for an absolute mammoth clash.

You can find our preview for the game here:

https://made4liverpool.com/2021/12/31/chelsea-vs-liverpool-preview/

Assistant manager Pep Ljinders is expected to lead the side out tomorrow with the gaffer in isolation. Two of the three players to have tested positive are believed to be Brazilians Alisson Becker and Roberto Firmino. The third player is as of yet unconfirmed.

Add injuries to the likes of Thiago, Minamino, Origi and co and you’re looking at a depleted Liverpool side for the biggest game of the season so far. Be that as it may, Ljinders can call on a number of stars from the start.

In goal, Caoimhin Kelleher will come in for just his second league appearance of the season. The Irishman kept a clean sheet at Watford earlier in the season and is coming off the back of a memorable penalty shootout win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup.

It’s a huge game for the 22 year old. Chelsea are strong at set pieces and they will likely target Kelleher by putting a man on him during corners. Whether he can command his box to come out and claim crosses will go a long way to determine how this game will go.

Ahead of Caoimhin, we should see the same back four that lined up at the King Power. Alexander-Arnold will continue at right back, with Tsimikas at left back in Robertson’s continued abscence through suspension.

Van Dijk and Matip will continue at centre back, although there’s a case to be made for Konaté. Ibou’s physicality and pace could be a useful tool against Lukaku. It’s a decision the manager has to wrestle with, especially as Matip did well enough against Lukaku in the game at Anfield back in August.

In the middle of the pitch we will see Fabinho and Henderson once again. Fabinho was taken off early at Leicester in order to avoid a potential suspension. He’s a shoo in here and will have the skipper to his right. On his left will likely be Naby Keita.

With Thiago out with a hip injury and Oxlade-Chamberlain flattering to deceive one too many times, it’s Keita who will get the nod. The Guinean can be similarly inconsistent but he was absolutely flying before his latest injury.

The hope will be that he finds that level here. Milner and Curtis Jones are further options but it’ll be a bit of a surprise to see either start here. The midfield battle will be key to the encounter, with Chelsea strong in that department with Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic all available.

The manager has no room to manouvre when it comes to his attack. Firmino is out with Covid and Minamino and Origi are both out injured. It’s a precarious situation especially with Mané and Salah departing for AFCON after this fixture.

The duo will be joined by Jota in attack as they seek to put a collective off night at Leicester behind them. This is an absolute must win and when the stakes are this high you expect your big players to step up. All three will need to step up if the three points will be brought back to Merseyside.

Predicted team:

Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Jota, Mané.

Subs: Pitaluga, Williams, Konaté, Gomez, Beck, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones Gordon.