Liverpool host Chelsea in a Premier League encounter this afternoon, with both teams dealing with significant injury concerns. Chelsea are expected to be without several key players as their league campaign continues to unravel, having lost six consecutive matches and scored only once in that run.
Chelsea Team News
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez will miss the match after a horrific head collision with Morgan Gibbs-White during Monday's defeat to Nottingham Forest. Both players required stitches. Jesse Derry is also absent following a separate sickening clash of heads. Adding to Chelsea's woes, wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto are expected to miss out with knocks. With Estevao's season over due to a serious hamstring injury and Jamie Gittens sidelined, manager Calum McFarlane is left very light on the wings.
In better news, Reece James and Levi Colwill trained this week. Colwill played the second half against Forest and also completed a full 90 minutes for the Under-21s in April. He will be eager to gain match fitness ahead of next weekend's FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Predicted Chelsea XI
With no fit wingers, McFarlane may deploy Enzo Fernandez in a more advanced role again. Joao Pedro could drop deep if Liam Delap starts up front.
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool hope to have Alexander Isak available to start after he missed the defeat at Manchester United last time out. The Sweden international returned to training on Thursday, and manager Arne Slot is optimistic he can play a role. Giorgi Mamardashvili also returned to training this week and will push to reclaim his place in goal, with Alisson Becker still out. Mohamed Salah remains sidelined with a hamstring issue and has not yet returned to training. Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate missed training earlier this week but both were back with the group on Friday.
Predicted Liverpool XI
Isak's availability gives Liverpool a focal point up front, with Hugo Ekitike a long-term absentee.
Match Details
Liverpool vs Chelsea kicks off at 12:30pm today (Saturday 9 May) at Anfield. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and available for streaming via the HBO Max app.
