Chelsea aims to break their three-match winless streak in the Premier League as they host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. The Reds recently suffered their first loss of the season across all competitions, falling to Galatasaray in the Champions League. This defeat highlighted several issues that Arne Slot is attempting to resolve while seeking his optimal starting lineup.
The absence of Alexis Mac Allister for this match emphasizes the importance of Dominik Szoboszlai`s return to central midfield. In the Champions League, he played as a right-back with Jeremie Frimpong on the wing. With Mohamed Salah likely to return to the lineup, Frimpong will either have to revert to right-back or be benched. Given Conor Bradley`s fitness, Slot has options if he feels his team is too defensively vulnerable to push Frimpong forward.
How to watch Chelsea vs. Liverpool, odds
Below is information on how to watch the match between Chelsea and Liverpool, along with the odds:
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 4 | Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Stamford Bridge — London
- TV: NBC | Live stream: Fubo
- Odds: Chelsea +180; Draw +275; Liverpool +130
Maintain Discipline on the Pitch
Surprisingly, Chelsea has seen a player sent off in three of their last four matches, losing two of those. While no one will be suspended for this particular clash (as Joao Pedro will miss a Champions League match), excessive aggression could work against them when Liverpool comes to town. Last season, Liverpool earned the most penalties – nine – converting all of them, with Salah being clinical from the spot. Liverpool will launch strong attacks against Chelsea, especially since the Blues` defense is prone to conceding if they sit back for too long. If Chelsea allows penalty opportunities, the outcome of the game could be decided before it even begins.
Consider Benching Florian Wirtz
Liverpool has been struggling with balance, partly due to Florian Wirtz`s difficulties in adapting to his new role within the team. While Wirtz will undoubtedly be an important player for Liverpool in the future, the transition to the Premier League and not being the primary attacking threat has proven challenging. Slot`s defense will already be weakened by Alisson`s hamstring injury, providing even more reason to prioritize possession. Last season, Liverpool excelled at controlling games until their opponents made a mistake, but this season they`ve lacked that controlling factor. While some of this stems from figuring out the midfield configuration, defensive setbacks have also complicated their attacking build-up. It speaks volumes about the team`s strength that they`ve only suffered one loss this season despite these concerns, but if things don`t improve, away trips like this one to Chelsea could lead to more defeats.
The Race for Top Spots Intensifies
The upper half of the Premier League table is quite congested. Liverpool might be leading the league before this match, but they are only two points ahead of Arsenal; a failure to win away at Chelsea could see the Gunners move to the top before the international break, giving them hope that after three consecutive second-place finishes in previous seasons, now is the time to push for the title. Belief can propel a team significantly, so it`s crucial for the Reds to maintain control. Chelsea, meanwhile, sits in eighth place. While it`s still early, and they aren`t far from a top-four spot, trailing teams like Crystal Palace, Tottenham, and Manchester City will make the climb up the table tougher than it might seem. Last season, the Blues qualified for the Champions League with a deep squad that allowed rotation due to Conference League duties. However, this season, Enzo Maresca has had to shorten his rotation as he needs his first-team players for both UCL and Premier League commitments. Balancing both competitions could see Chelsea miss out on the top four, but securing points against the reigning champions at home would be a significant step towards achieving their aspirations.
