In what will surely be the most high-profile match of the Premier League match week 8, league leaders Liverpool are set to host 4th-place Chelsea FC.
Before this international break, Arne Slot’s Liverpool side defeated Crystal Palace away 1-0 which ensured that they remained top of the pack headed into the break. Chelsea, meanwhile, drew with Nottingham Forest 1-1 after dispatching Gent in the Europa Conference League 4-2.
Liverpool’s record at Anfield, despite a recent 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, is typically a fortress. Last season, Liverpool only lost two games at home and they both occurred in quick succession: a 3-0 loss to eventual Europa League winners Atalanta, and a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace just three days later.
To Chelsea’s benefit, Liverpool are also typically sluggish following international breaks. This season, their aforementioned loss to Nottingham Forest at home came after an international break. However, Liverpool will be buoyed by the fact that Mohammed Salah and Virgil van Dijk returned to their clubs earlier than usual, with the latter returning due to receiving a suspension.
Meanwhile Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, despite their chaotic pre-season, is now starting to click. They haven’t lost a game since their opening-day defeat to Manchester City, although had a disappointing 1-1 draw to Nottingham Forest prior to the break.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is set to be unavailable until late November due to a thigh injury. Harvey Elliot is also out until next month, and Federico Chiesa is still uncertain. Caoimhin Kelleher is set to start in goal for the Reds.
For Chelsea, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana will miss out through suspension. Right-back Reece James has confirmed to have returned to training, although given his injury woes over the past few years, it seems very unlikely that Chelsea will throw him back into the starting lineup right away.
Given Liverpool’s inability to get solid performances after the international break, we can see this being a tight fixture. In another slightly worrying omen for Liverpool, Chelsea currently has a 100% away record in the league. Silencing the likes of Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku will be imperative for the Reds, who aren’t short of firepower themselves with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah having 11 Premier League goals between them.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea (Draw).