Chelsea are set to host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in a crucial Premier League game on Sunday. Though both sides are trailing by more than 10 points behind league leaders Manchester City, this game will offer them the chance to strengthen their positions on the points ladder.

In the away game, Liverpool will be without their tactician Jurgen Klopp. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders will take the reins in his absence.

This match is also the last one for Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita before they are released to represent their respective countries at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Also Read | Romelu Lukaku may face action from Thomas Tuchel, before Liverpool game

Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel’s men are looking to recover from a series of poor results and the sting of bad blood between Tuchel and Romelu Lukaku. In their last four Premier League games, Chelsea dropped six points which widened their game with league leaders Manchester City, who have 53 points in 21 matches. Chelsea could accumulate 42 points in 20 matches.

Though Lukaku was available for Sunday’s fixture, reports suggest Tuchel might drop the Belgian from the squad after the former criticised the manager in a recent interview.

Also Read | Man United more than Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes: Ralf Rangnick

Liverpool are currently one point behind Chelsea in the third place, but with a game in hand. If either team wants to push on challenge City for the title in the second half of the season, they have to start building up victories now.

In the Liverpool camp, Andy Robertson is still suspended after his red card against Tottenham Hotspurs, so he will be ineligible to play. Additionally, Thiago Alcantara, Takumi Minamino, Harvey Elliott, Nat Phillips, Divock Origi, and Adrian are all out injured.

Predicted Liverpool Lineup: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Mane

In the Chelsea camp, Timo Werner is serving a quarantine period for testing positive for COVID-19, while Reece James, Andreas Christensen, and Ben Chilwell are all confirmed out through injury. Facing late fitness tests are Thiago Silva and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Predicted Chelsea lineup: Mendy, Silva, Chalobah, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Werner, Havertz

What the Managers had said

Jurgen Klopp: “I expect a really strong Chelsea side because, with all the struggles they have obviously injury-wise and COVID-wise which I don’t know exactly about, they still have obviously a proper football team.”

Thomas Tuchel: “We will push to the maximum to beat Liverpool. The day after Liverpool no matter if we make it or not, the situation will catch us again because we are in this situation and that’s why we struggle and this will not go away by one win. But we will fight for the win of course.”