Chelsea v Liverpool – English Premier League Live Updates

Squad Announcements: Wirtz Among Substitutes

Teenager Acheampong takes the place of banned Chalobah in Chelsea's defensive line. It's among four modifications from the team that kicked off the previous weekend's setback at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, and Garnacho come in for Hato, Andrey Santos (who is injured), and Estevao. Consequently, Reece James is set to start in the middle of the park.

Mamardashvili, seen as the best goalkeeper at Euro 2024, deputises for the unfit Alisson Becker. Head coach Slot implements an additional switch, with Cody Gakpo chosen over Florian Wirtz in attack. Florian Wirtz is part of a powerful Reds subs bench.

Starting XIs

The Blues (4-3-3) Robert Sanchez; Malo Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella; James, Moises Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Alejandro Garnacho; Pedro.

Bench: Jorgensen, Gabriel Slonina, Hato, Lavia, Jordan Emenalo, Buonanotte, Estevao, Gittens, Marc Guiu.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Giorgi Mamardashvili; Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo.

Substitutes: Woodman, Gomez, Wataru Endo, Wirtz, Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Hugo Ekitike, Robertson, Jeremie Frimpong.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Build-Up

The world champions take on the English champions at Stamford Bridge tonight, but no one will be talking about the glories of the previous campaigns. Each Chelsea and Liverpool are in contention for the so-called crisis baton – passed every matchday to the club that the press labels to be under pressure – after undergoing a dip in form towards the end of September.

Chelsea have earned merely a single point from their most recent three Premier League fixtures. The Merseyside team have lost their last two in every tournament and failed to perform particularly well in the winning streak before that.

In times of trouble, tough games are a double-edged sword. Enzo Maresca and Arne Slot know that, if they succeed this evening, the doubt will stop immediately. But if they lose, the media scrutiny will be heightened.

Start time: 17:30.

Cause and Effect

Chelsea fitness issues are described as 'consequences' from their Club World Cup participation, according to manager Enzo Maresca.

Spotlight: Wirtz

The talented German Florian Wirtz is noted as the latest footballer struggling to best their unusual transfer valuation.