Premier League Preview Liverpool v Chelsea

WHO  Chelsea

WHEN  Saturday 21 January 12:30 BST..

WHERE  ANFIELD

LIVERPOOL V CHELSEA

Now here is the real litmus test.. After our midweek victory over Wolves in the FA Cup in which we were superb and kept a vital clean sheet.. We face a real test against the Londoners.. Even though they have been struggling themselves of late too

So will Klopp have learnt from all the mistakes over the past month or so.. We will know by 11.30 Saturday morning as the team sheet is announced.. This time maybe it will not be looked at with as much scrutiny as Darwin Nunez seems to be back in the mix..

We will look at this later in the post.. But us Liverpool fans we do know our stuff. We've been there many times and have witnessed quality teams under even more quality management.. So the time for major changes might not be quite yet. But the biggest of all unleashing Trent AA into an attacking roll is paramount.. Lets no longer burden him with the pressure of having to defend and move him up the pitch..

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

So here is why we do not need to scrutinise too much.. Darwin Nunez is apparently fit to play.. Which changes everything.. Over the years when we can field our strongest 11.. 99 times out of 100 we win.. You don't become a poor team over night and injuries have played a major factor..

Only now though do we have the back up to play a pretty good team with key members Virg, Bobby, Diaz & Jota still out.. Arthur is still absent too and Tsimikas picked up a knock but could be ok to play if needed but should start as a sub..

So the only question is does Nunez start..?

CHELSEA

If we thought we had injuries Chelsea seem to be a bit worse off with Kante, Sterling, Zakaria, Chilwell, Fofana, James, Borja, Pulisic & Mendy out.. While Felix is suspended.. Again they will still start with a strong line up and new signing Mudryk could feature..

Last time out they beat Palace 1-0 at home but were on the back of a 3 game losing streak.. With a 1-1 draw at Forest before that.. 

DANGERMAN: Thiago Silva.. Not so much a danger man going forwards. Though a handful from corners.. but he has been in impressive form at the back.. If we get past him we should be good..

LIVERPOOL TEAM:

With the mind set Nunez starts.. Though all the talk is Bajcetic is worthy of a start and rightly so.. The only thing is he cramped up so may come off the bench in this one.. Next we doubt very much Trent will be unleashed so he may well start right back..

The probable line up will be

Ali, Trent, Konate, Matip, Robbo, Fabs, Thiago, Hendo, Gakpo, Nunez, Salah

Which again is very strong and like we said earlier our first 11 barring Diaz & Virg here still has that extra factor to beat anyone. Especially in a big game at home against a rival..

THE GAME

Chelsea will sit in and try to counter which has been our major Achilles Heal.. Potters old team Brighton have made things exceptionally difficult for us the last few seasons so we will know what to expect..

We will create plenty of chances and will have to take them.. Obviously.. With Nunez in the mix he will be a proper handful and leave space for others. In particular Mo and Gakpo and other attacking options in midfield and out wide..

So the problem comes when we have to keep them out.. We have talked for weeks about building from the back and setting up strong.. Which is part of Arsenals success so far this season. Playing Ben White at right back has made them instantly solid and attackers can just attack..

So lets take a leaf out of their book and play Joe Gomez in there.. Milner played well there too but he could equally come on and bolster that midfield late on.. We shouldn't be playing James there at this stage of his career and Klopp's tenure.. This should be a thing of the past and never be revisited again..

PREDICTION: 2-0 to them mighty reds..

As ever I honestly believe this is the strongest squad we have had in years.. (Repeated!!) People have called for signings but if we have to wait til the summer to get the players we want then so be it.. We don't need stop gaps. The players are already here who can get us out of this mess.. It's simply up to Klopp now to pick a strong team and unleash the beast.

When the injured players recover we can adapt, rotate, chop & change but lets start to win.. and win ugly.. We don't care. Top 4 is a major possibility still so let's go and get it. Starting here against Chelsea.

OUR DANGERMAN: Darwin Nunez

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