Liverpool will look to sign off from Anfield Premier League duty with a win on Wednesday night against Chelsea. After the match, the champions will get their hands on the Premier League trophy for the first time.
The players, staff, and families will take to the specially built stage in the heart of the Kop, where they will receive their individual medals as well as receive the newly engraved trophy for the first time.
Liverpool v Chelsea: Preview
Chelsea have their own motivation ahead of the match as they look to further cement their place amongst the league’s top four, ensuring Champions League qualification for next season. Frank Lampard’s men will be buoyed by their weekends FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United on the weekend.
Last time out at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s side dropped points for the first time this season as a determined Burnley snatched a draw thanks to a Jay Rodriquez volley. The German manager will be looking to finish off their home campaign in a more familiar style against the Blues.
The last time the two met in the league was back in September at Stamford Bridge when a sublime Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick was followed by yet another Roberto Firmino away goal to give Liverpool a 2-0 advantage. Chelsea hit back when N’golo Kante fired home from the edge of the box, but it was the visitors who left with all three points in their then pursuit of the title. Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool: Highlights
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Liverpool will be without their talismanic captain for the 90 minutes of football action at least, although, Jordan Henderson is expected to appear after the match. Taking the centre stage to perform the much anticipated Premier League trophy lift.
Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren are the only other injury concerns for the champions as James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri are expected to be on a youthful bench once more.
Chelsea’s goalscorer from the last league outing, Kante, is expected to miss Wednesday nights clash through injury, along with Billy Gilmour who impressed in the FA Cup meeting between the two sides.
With Liverpool now unable to reach a new record points tally, it could be argued there is little more than pride to play for. However, Klopp will have his men motivated to go out on a high if only to add extra emphasis to the post-match celebrations. Liverpool Champions – Four talking points from the Premier League
Chelsea, on the other hand, have it all to play for, a win would move the Blues four points clear of fifth place with only Sunday’s final fixtures to play. With European football and an FA Cup final on the horizon, boss Frank Lampard will want to get the top four wrapped up as soon as possible.
These games regardless of importance are often enthralling affairs, a rivalry that has stemmed from such events as a no love lost relationship between Liverpool and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, and a Luis Garcia Champions League ‘ghost goal’ has seen it grow over the years. This latest installment could be another to add to a growing list of titanic clashes between the two sides.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea
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