Anfield takes centre stage on night of title lift – Liverpool vs. Chelsea Preview

Liverpool meet Chelsea in the penultimate clash of their Premier League season, on a night where the trophy will be hoisted into the air by Jordan Henderson.

Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Wednesday, July 21, 2020 – 8.15pm (BST)
Anfield
Premier League (37)
Referee: Andre Marriner


The day has finally arrived. Dreams will turn into reality as Jordan Henderson gives the Premier League trophy the shuffle treatment, but first, there is a game to play.

Liverpool have been inconsistent at best since being crowned champions in terms of both performances and results, with their latest outing at Arsenal consigning Jurgen Klopp‘s men to their fifth defeat in their last seven away games.

Now, their undefeated streak at Anfield, which stands at 58, is on the line in addition to ending the season with a joint-record of the most home wins in a single campaign (18).

And Frank Lampard’s Chelsea are the last team to visit the home of the champions, a team the Reds have met three times already this season.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, March 3, 2020: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp and Chelsea's manager Frank Lampard embrace after the FA Cup 5th Round match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won 2-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp’s side emerged victorious over Chelsea in both the UEFA Super Cup and Premier League meetings but fell to a 2-0 defeat in the FA Cup in March, a competition where the Blues have now secured their place in the final.

A tough battle is sure to ensue on Wednesday evening as Chelsea look to cement their place in the top four, while Liverpool looks to pick up another win to take into the Premier League trophy presentation on the Kop.

But any way you look at it, it is to be a historic and emotional night for Liverpool Football Club, so soak up every single moment you can as the team celebrate their remarkable season.

 

Team News

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 25, 2019: Liverpool's James Milner celebrates scoring the first goal with team-mate Curtis Jones during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between MK Dons FC and Liverpool FC at Stadium MK. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The boss has few injuries to consider in the penultimate game with Joel Matip and Henderson already ruled out with a foot and knee injury respectively.

But be rest assured, the captain will be there to lift the trophy in style.

James Milner, meanwhile, had been marked for a return against Chelsea prior to the trip to Arsenal last time out having continued to battle a minor muscle issue.

The 34-year-old has played just 10 minutes, against Burnley, since sustaining a hamstring injury against Everton on restart day and is expected to return to the fold at Anfield on Wednesday.

With a seven-day break between games, Klopp could once again look to field his strongest possible side, with Naby Keita the most likely inclusion in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

And Curtis Jones will be hoping to see some minutes to pick up his fifth, and medal securing, appearance in the top-flight.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are to be without Billy Gilmour (knee), while N’Golo Kante remains a major doubt with a hamstring injury.

Possible Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic

 

Last 5 at Home to Chelsea (All Competitions)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 14, 2019: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Won 2-0 – April 2019 (Mane, Salah)
Lost 2-1 – September 2018 (Sturridge; Emerson, Hazard)
Drew 1-1 – November 2017 (Salah; Willian)
Drew 1-1 – January 2017 (Wijnaldum; Luiz)
Drew 1-1 – May 2016 (Benteke; Hazard)

 

Did You Know?

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 22, 2019: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea's FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

This game will offer Liverpool the chance to complete the Premier League double over Chelsea for the first time since 2011/12, and only the third time since the competition’s inception in 1992.

The only other time the Reds have completed the double over the Blues was in 2008/09 when Liverpool won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and 2-0 at Anfield.

And recent history makes for a good omen as the club have not lost a league game to Chelsea since 2014, and few would say no to a similar result in this fixture last season which saw Mohamed Salah dispatch a worldie at the Kop-end.

Will the Reds end their home campaign on a high and take that good feeling into the trophy lift?

 

Form

LONDON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, July 14, 2020: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk complains to the referee during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool – Last five results (all competitions)

Lost 2-1 vs. Arsenal
Drew 1-1 vs. Burnley
Won 3-1 vs. Brighton
Won 2-0 vs. Aston Villa
Lost 4-0 vs. Man City

Chelsea – Last five results (all competitions)

Won 3-1 vs. Man United
Won 1-0 vs. Norwich
Lost 3-0 vs. Sheffield United
Won 3-2 vs. Crystal Palace
Won 3-0 vs. Watford

 

Klopp’s View

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Klopp sent a message to the fans and touched on the special emotions and the unique situation Liverpool find themselves in:

“This is the absolute challenge, being champions and playing these teams who fight for so much. I expect a good game from us and, unfortunately, from Chelsea as well.

“In the end, you can only win when we are at 100 percent and we will see if that’s possible tomorrow night, but we have to go for something too.

“There’s a really important football game before it but I can’t and do not want to ignore that there will be a trophy lift tomorrow night.

“The boys worked very hard for it, everybody at the club worked hard, and it should be as good as possible. I will be in the best spirits. On a professional basis, it’s one of the biggest and greatest days of my life, to finally get our hands on this trophy.”

 

Trophy Lift

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Wednesday, August 14, 2019: Liverpool's captain Jordan Henderson lifts the trophy after winning the Super Cup after the UEFA Super Cup match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Besiktas Park. Liverpool won 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. (Pic by Handout/UEFA)

The emotions are already running high for the presentation of the trophy which is expected to be around 10.30pm (BST), following the conclusion of the game.

Seats have been taken from the Kop to make space for a specially designed podium where the players will assemble after receiving their winners’ medals from Sir Kenny Dalglish, of which there are 40 to hand out and 23 players have already qualified to receive one.

The trophy will then be presented to Henderson who will, of course, be giving it the shuffle treatment which will precede a firework and light show, images we are sure to cherish for a lifetime.

 

TV & Liveblog Info

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, October 17, 2016: The Premier League trophy under the floodlights at Anfield before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United. General Image (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool vs. Chelsea will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League and free-to-air on Sky Pick, with coverage starting at 8pm (BST) ahead of the 8.15pm kickoff.

Sky Pick is available free on the following channels:

Freeview: Channel 11
Freesat: Channel 144
Sky (UK): Channel 159
Virgin Media (UK): Channel 165

Chris Williams will be keeping you entertained and up to date with all the action on This Is Anfield’s matchday liveblog, starting from 7.30pm (BST).