The two prominent English football clubs are aiming to put behind their lackluster performances from the previous season and strive for a more robust challenge, aiming for at least a top-four finish this time. Chelsea's initial season under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital was marked by significant events, but it culminated in a disastrous outcome.
They endured their poorest top-flight campaign in nearly three decades. Despite lavish spending of over £600m across two transfer windows, Chelsea concluded the 2022-23 season without any silverware and failed to secure a spot in European competitions. They finished a disappointing 12th in the Premier League, a considerable 27 points adrift of the top four and with a 10-point buffer from the relegation zone.
The managerial efforts of Graham Potter and Frank Lampard didn't yield the desired results, with Potter arguably not given sufficient time to make his mark on the team. The appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur head honcho, Mauricio Pochettino, has instilled optimism. Widely regarded as one of the premier coaches globally, Pochettino's ability to work effectively with young players is particularly celebrated.
Pochettino has orchestrated a significant departure of first-team players during the summer, generating a revenue exceeding £200m. In return, notable names like Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Axel Disasi, Robert Sanchez, and Lesley Ugochukwu have joined the squad, with more potential additions in the pipeline.
Chelsea's pre-season campaign remained unbeaten, crowned by their triumph in the inaugural Premier League Summer Series in the USA. They secured seven points from matches against Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, and Fulham, topping the six-team table. The team secured a late 1-1 draw in their final warm-up game against Borussia Dortmund, with young talent Mason Burstow netting an 89th-minute equalizer.
Pochettino, who has only won three out of 16 previous encounters with Liverpool as a manager, is now preparing for a challenging initiation into competitive matches as Chelsea's manager. The Reds have drawn each of their last six matches against Chelsea, with the past four being goalless draws, including both Premier League clashes in the previous season. This remarkable statistic sets the stage for a potentially historic match.
Liverpool, like Chelsea, won't be participating in the Champions League this season. They'll be focusing on the Europa League after finishing fifth in the Premier League, a first for Jurgen Klopp's tenure since his inaugural campaign nine seasons ago. After an intense pursuit of a quadruple in the 2021-22 season, Liverpool struggled to vie for major trophies last season, witnessing Manchester City's treble victory and Manchester United's EFL Cup win.
Liverpool's lack of reinforcement in the midfield last season came back to haunt them, leading to a midfield overhaul at Anfield during the summer. Multiple midfielders, including captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, have left the club, making way for exciting additions like Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. There's also the potential signing of Moises Caicedo, who appears to favor a move to Chelsea over Anfield.
During pre-season, Liverpool experienced mixed results in both their attack and defense, netting 19 goals but conceding 10 across five friendly fixtures. Noteworthy victories against Karlsruhe, Leicester City, and Darmstadt contrasted with a 4-4 draw against Greuther Furth and a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich, indicating that Klopp's side hasn't yet hit its full stride.
However, Liverpool's Premier League openings have been consistently strong, with no loss in their last 10 seasons, securing eight wins and two draws. A victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday would break their seven-game winless streak against Chelsea.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Chelsea's preparations for the upcoming season have been marred by a double blow on the injury front. Both Wesley Fofana and summer signing Christopher Nkunku have been sidelined for several months due to knee injuries.In brighter news for the team, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke (both recovering from hamstring issues), and Armando Broja (working on fitness) didn't participate in any pre-season games, but all three have resumed training and are in contention for Pochettino's matchday squad.
Leading the defense, Captain Reece James and Ben Chilwell are expected to anchor the full-back positions. The center-back position presents a competition among Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, and Levi Colwill. Similarly, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Robert Sanchez will vie for the starting goalkeeper role.
Up front, Nicolas Jackson is poised for his debut, likely partnering with Raheem Sterling, while Mykhaylo Mudryk could potentially grace the flanks. The midfield trio of Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, and Carney Chukwuemeka could form a formidable presence in the middle of the pitch.
Switching focus to Liverpool, they'll be missing Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic due to ongoing hip and adductor injuries, respectively.
Liverpool is anticipated to adopt a 3-4-3 formation during possession, with Trent Alexander-Arnold adopting an inverted full-back role. The defense is expected to feature new captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Andrew Robertson.
In the midfield, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are set for their competitive debuts. Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot could also make appearances in the starting lineup.
Former Chelsea player Mohamed Salah displayed impressive form in pre-season, scoring twice and contributing seven assists across five matches. He is expected to continue on the right side of the front three. The remaining two starting positions in attack are up for grabs, with Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota all vying for the spots.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:Arrizabalaga; James, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Fernandez, Gallagher; Sterling, Chukwuemeka, Mudryk; Jackson
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
EXPERT PREDICTION
Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Chelsea and Liverpool have frequently found themselves deadlocked in low-scoring encounters in recent times. It wouldn't raise eyebrows if the two teams once again settle for a draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
However, despite this, an engaging clash is anticipated, and there's a possibility of an increased flurry of goals this time. Both teams have shown vulnerabilities in their defenses during pre-season, hinting at a potentially livelier exchange on the field.
