Chelsea and Liverpool Clash: Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
Two struggling giants clash this weekend as Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge in Premier League action.
Both teams desperately need three points before the international break but have displayed weaknesses in recent fixtures. The Blues have suffered defeat in three of their past five outings and struggled to impress even in wins against Lincoln City and Benfica, while the Reds seek to bounce back from consecutive losses to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray.
Chelsea already trail table-toppers Liverpool by seven points after merely six games, and their hopes of narrowing this deficit have been damaged by recent suspensions and fitness concerns. Enzo Maresca faces mounting pressure following a challenging period, with a commanding victory over Liverpool offering the ideal remedy.
The Merseyside club risks losing their summit position this weekend should Arsenal defeat West Ham United while they fail to secure points in London, but significant improvements are required to claim victory in the capital. Arne Slot's team have delivered some shocking defensive performances recently, and even their talented attacking unit appears sluggish.
Here's Sports Illustrated's preview of this pivotal clash in west London.
What Time Does Chelsea vs. Liverpool Kick-Off?
Chelsea vs. Liverpool Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Chelsea | Liverpool |
|---|---|
Chelsea 1–0 Benfica - 30/09/25 | Galatasaray 1–0 Liverpool - 30/09/25 |
Chelsea 1–3 Brighton - 27/09/25 | Crystal Palace 2–1 Liverpool - 27/09/25 |
Lincoln City 1–2 Chelsea - 23/09/25 | Liverpool 2–1 Southampton - 23/09/25 |
Man Utd 2–1 Chelsea - 20/09/25 | Liverpool 2–1 Everton - 20/09/25 |
Bayern Munich 3–1 Chelsea - 17/09/25 | Liverpool 3–2 Atlético Madrid - 17/09/25 |
How to Watch Chelsea vs. Liverpool on TV
Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
United States | fuboTV, UNIVERSO NOW, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Amazon Prime Video, NBC, UNIVERSO, TeleXitos |
United Kingdom | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD, Sky GO, Sky GO Extra, NOW TV |
Canada | DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Amazon Prime Video, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Mexico | Max Mexico, TNT Go, Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports |
Chelsea Team News
Maresca has confirmed he's missing "seven or eight players" for Liverpool's arrival due to fitness issues and disciplinary actions, with Cole Palmer the most significant absence as he recovers from a groin injury.
Trevoh Chalobah serves a suspension following his dismissal against Brighton & Hove Albion, though João Pedro remains available despite his midweek Champions League red card.
Defensive problems are causing major headaches for the Blues, who'll be missing Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill alongside the banned Chalobah.
Additionally, Liam Delap, Andrey Santos and Dário Essugo are sidelined through injury, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended following a positive drug test.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Liverpool
Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Badiashile, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Estêvão, Buonanotte, Neto; Pedro.
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool will miss Alisson on Saturday as he starts a six-week rehabilitation period. Considering his recent performances, this represents a major setback for Slot, though Giorgi Mamardashvili provides quality cover.
Giovanni Leoni faces an extended absence with an ACL problem, but fellow Italian Federico Chiesa might rejoin the Liverpool squad this weekend. He netted as a substitute last Saturday but was absent for the Istanbul defeat.
Slot has revealed that Chiesa and Hugo Ekitiké, who also picked up a knock against Galatasaray, both participated in Friday's training session and could feature at Stamford Bridge.
The Dutch manager faces crucial decisions regarding summer acquisitions Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz as Liverpool attempt to strengthen their defensive structure.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea
Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Chelsea vs. Liverpool Score Prediction
Considering Chelsea's defensive injuries and Liverpool's recent defensive collapses, Saturday's encounter will likely be determined by which backline commits fewer mistakes. Both sides possess potent attacking threats but neither can boast a reliable defence.
Encounters between these London and Merseyside rivals are traditionally intense affairs, and Chelsea's personnel problems shouldn't alter that dynamic this weekend. Maresca possesses one of global football's most extensive squads and might consider attack the optimal defensive strategy at home.
These Premier League powerhouses should deliver an entertaining spectacle worthy of their status, with neither side likely devastated by a stalemate.