Liverpool Predicted Lineup for Chelsea Clash

Liverpool aims to put an end to a three-match winless streak when they visit a struggling Chelsea side on Tuesday, April 4. Last Word on Sports tries to put together a Liverpool Predicted Lineup as the Reds look to pick up their first win in early a month at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea

Back in action on Tuesday. #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/w0IfPmgtci

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 2, 2023

How Liverpool Have Lined-Up Recently

Jurgen Klopp hasn’t really rotated his team that much in 2023, mostly because he only has a certain number of totally reliable players in his squad. Even though the back-five of Alisson, Trent-Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson shipped four goals against Manchester City, they’re still the strongest backline available for Klopp.

Similarly, the experienced midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are the best possible options – while Harvey Elliott’s creative threat makes him a viable midfield option. Mo Salah is undroppable as he’s their biggest goal-scoring threat, while Diogo Jota’s impressive return from injury warrants him keeping his place. Liverpool’s big January signing Cody Gakpo, who was hailed as ‘outstanding’ for his defensive work by Klopp in January – might see himself benched by the proactive Darwin Nunez in the upcoming game.

Liverpool Recent Form and Tactics

The Reds have struggled for goals and wins since their 7-0 win over Manchester United last month, as they’ve lost their last three successive games since that contest. Not just that, but they’ve only been able to score one goal in their last three clashes too.

Liverpool started the Man City game in blistering fashion, using their surging counter-attacks to torment the Manchester side. However, they lost their intensity and energy as the game progressed – something which Klopp can’t allow to be replicated going forward. The coach will continue with his patented 4-3-3 formation but will aim for his side to be smarter and more efficient.

That probably includes asking his players to be clever with their pressing and timing the pressures perfectly. He’ll also want the midfielders to drop deeper to help the backline against trouble and for players to show more aggression with their challenges. Liverpool’s attacking quality can’t be doubted, but they need to more fluid and incisive with their forward moves – needing midfielders to make the extra runs into the final third and the wing-backs to make better overlapping runs to allow Salah, Jota and Nunez more space in the final third.

Liverpool Key Players

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Mo Salah is still going strong amid Liverpool’s topsy-turvy campaign and can always be relied on to score goals. He’ll just need to be fed in better areas, with the Egyptian needing to use his smart movement and crisp finishing to torment his former side. Nunez can help make things easier for Salah with his excellent off-the-ball movement and creative ability, and he can be key in dragging Chelsea defenders out of their positions and opening up their backline.

Jota can be another menacing threat with his surging forward runs and unpredictable work in the final third, as he aims to add more decisiveness to his final product. While Alexander-Arnold and Robertson will be busy with their defensive duties – with Liverpool wary of how the ‘new manager bounce’ can revitalize players like Mykhailo Mudryk, Kai Havertz and Joao Felix to start soaring – the two Liverpool full-backs need to be accurate with their delivery from crosses and set-pieces to uplift Liverpool’s scoring chances.

Liverpool Injuries to Consider

Thiago Alcantara is back in training, but is still not fit. The same case goes for Luis Diaz too, while the injury-prone Naby Keita is again injured. Stefan Bajcetic, Liverpool’s breakout star of the season, is also injured.