It’s going to be Chelsea’s biggest game of the season on Sunday when they welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge for a crucial top-four clash.
Three points for Antonio Conte’s side will drag the Reds back into the race for the Champions League places, but a defeat would (more than likely) mean that Chelsea will be playing Europa League football next term.
Despite the home side producing positive results in recent weeks, it’s going to be a tough test against Jurgen Klopp’s men. Here is the threat Chelsea will face at the weekend:
#1 Momentum from Rome
Its party mode on Merseyside after Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League final after they recorded a remarkable 7-6 aggregate win against Roma on Wednesday night. Despite losing the encounter 4-2 on the night, Klopp’s men will now meet holders Real Madrid in Kiev later this month. Momentum, confidence, and belief will be high for Liverpool on Sunday, who will want to end the week by claiming all three points at Stamford Bridge.
#2 Salah on fire
31 Premier League goals speaks for itself. Mohammed Salah is perhaps the best player in the world at this moment in time and he will be looking to add to his goal tally at the weekend. Chelsea have let a number of high profile players go in recent years from Kevin De Bruyne to Mo Salah. The latter scored against Chelsea during the reverse fixture in November, only for Willian to cancel out his strike late in the second half. Salah will want to have his say once again, but he will come against a team that has kept two clean sheets in their last two matches.
#3 And the rest…
Stopping Salah on Sunday is not the only problem facing Chelsea. Even if the former Roma man has a poor game there will be plenty of other players looking to end Chelsea’s Champions League hopes. Roberto Firmino is perhaps the most underrated figure in this Liverpool team with his movement off the ball being one of his standout qualities. In the middle of the park, James Milner will be expected to start and the former England international comes into the game having provided eight assists in ten Champions League encounters this season. During the early stages of the game, the Reds will be playing their typical high tempo game. However, during the latter stages, it will not be a surprise if they tire out following their trip to Italy in midweek.
