Chelsea v Liverpool: Preview and Prediction

Chelsea are regrouping again after their second managerial departure of the season, with Bruno Saltor tasked with facing Liverpool on Tuesday.

Former Brighton and Hove Albion defender Bruno arrived at Stamford Bridge with Graham Potter when he was appointed to replace Thomas Tuchel in September.

But Potter was also sacked, leaving Bruno in care of a discouraging first game at home to Liverpool.

It's at least one game that matters relatively little to Chelsea, who sit 11th in the Premier League with little chance of reclaiming Champions League qualification.

Nevertheless, Bruno knows that there is always pressure for his players and takes the preparation for the match seriously.

“[We] see this as an opportunity for players,” he said. "We represent Chelsea, a club with an incredible history.

"It's about winning, it's about dominating, and what we have to do is prepare for the game.

"Preparation helps a lot for performance, and that's what players need to focus on."

Despite the disruption, Bruno suggested his Chelsea side 'stay as close as possible' to the side that lost to Aston Villa on Saturday, after believing the Blues were 'dominating'.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's preparations have been a bit more routine, although Jurgen Klopp's side have had few chances to recover from Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Manchester City.

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"We can't work on the pitch, that's all," Klopp said on Monday. “Games like [City] have an impact. We may lose more confidence, but the desire to show a reaction is also there. Boys are always good people.

"The short turnaround is a problem; right now I have no idea who I can line up. We need to give the boys time to recover.

"There will definitely be changes - 48 hours, then you travel, wait in London for kick-off, it's all there [in the spirit]. That's what we're working on."

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea – Kai Havertz

Chelsea need to regain their goalscoring touch, having failed to score in five home games this season, including four since the start of the year.

Meanwhile, their shot conversion rate of 8.2% is their lowest since records began in 1997-98. But Havertz had appeared to be back in form before the Villa loss, scoring in three consecutive games in all competitions.

Liverpool–Mohamed Salah

Chelsea let Salah go, and he's been enjoying punishing them ever since. He has four goals in 11 Premier League games against the Blues, with only Kevin De Bruyne (five) scoring more goals against Chelsea among former players.

Salah was the last ex-Blue to score a league goal at Stamford Bridge, in January 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last four Premier League away matches against Chelsea, although they have never gone five league games unbeaten at Stamford Bridge.

There have been two wins for the Reds in those four games, but the last five meetings between Chelsea and Liverpool in all competitions have ended in draws. In fact, their last three meetings have ended scoreless.

Chelsea will start 11th, their lowest position at the end of a season since their penultimate game in 1995-96, when they were also 11th against Tottenham. This game also sucked.

PROBABILITY OF WINNING OPTA

Chelsea – 31.1%

Liverpool – 40.2%

Draw – 28.7%