Liverpool vs Chelsea: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
Liverpool and Chelsea go head to head on Saturday evening, with both sides aiming to maintain their perfect starts to the 2021/22 campaign.
The Reds have cruised through their opening two matches, beating Norwich City and Burnley 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. Similarly, the Blues have made an equally impressive start, defeating Crystal Palace and Arsenal by the same score lines.
Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel will see this as their first major test of the season, a clash between two potential Premier League title candidates. Chelsea are seen as challengers to Manchester City's reign, while Liverpool are flying under the radar after last year's poor campaign.
Here's 90min's preview of the big game.
Where to watch Liverpool vs Chelsea on TV/live stream
When is it? Saturday 28 August
What time is kick-off? 17:30 (BST)
Where is it being played? Anfield
TV Channel: Sky Sports Main Event (UK), NBC Sports (US)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Liverpool team news
The good news for Liverpool is that Andy Robertson could be in line to make his return from injury. The Scotsman watched on from the bench in the win over Burnley, and although Kostas Tsimikas deputised excellently, Robertson should reclaim his left-back spot against the Blues.
Klopp may be able to welcome back Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain too, who both missed the last outing due to personal reasons, while James Milner could be fit for inclusion in the match day squad. Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up a knock at the end of the Burnley victory, but he should be fit to start at right-back.
Diogo Jota should also keep his spot ahead of Roberto Firmino, following two impressive displays.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea are in an even more positive place than they were prior to the victory over Arsenal, with N'Golo Kante and Hakim Ziyech back to full fitness. The pair came on as substitutes against the Gunners, and are now ready for starting selection.
However, Christian Pulisic remains a doubt for Tuchel's side, after testing positive for coronavirus ahead of the trip to the Emirates. New signing Romelu Lukaku should start his second match since returning to the club, hoping to add to his goal on Sunday.
Liverpool vs Chelsea predicted lineups
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Jota, Mane
Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Havertz, Lukaku, Mount
Liverpool vs Chelsea head-to-head record
Unsurprisingly, the two English giants are pretty evenly balanced when it comes to their head-to-head record. The last meeting saw Chelsea claim the bragging rights with a 1-0 victory at Anfield, after Mason Mount struck the winning goal for the visitors.
Liverpool had won the reverse fixture earlier in the season though, taking advantage of Andreas Christensen's red card to win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. The Reds did the double over the Blues in the 2019/20 league campaign, although Chelsea did knock them out of the FA Cup.
The west Londoners have won four of the last 10 meetings in all competitions, while Liverpool have won five. It's on a knife-edge, this one.
Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction
Neither Liverpool nor Chelsea have conceded a goal in the combined four matches they've played so far, but their defensive solidity will be put to the ultimate test on Saturday evening.
We expect an extremely balanced contest between the former Premier League champions and the current European champions, and it may prove tough to split them at Anfield. Chelsea may boast the stronger squad on paper, but the home crowd will do everything to give their heroes the edge.
This one could go either way, but we think Liverpool and the Blues will cancel each other out on Merseyside, in an entertaining affair between two title hopefuls. A 1-1 draw is a rather reserved prediction though, and we wouldn't be surprised if there were more goals in this huge battle.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea