Liverpool vs Chelsea predicted XIs: Team news and probable line-ups | OneFootball

The biggest Premier League game of the weekend takes place at Anfield on Sunday at 4:30pm (UK time, live on Sky Sports) as Liverpool and Chelsea go head-to-head.

The hosts go into the clash top of the table after winning six of their opening seven games, prior to the international break.

They face a Chelsea team that have moved into the top four after a run of six league games without defeat, including three wins from three on the road.

Kelleher has to stand up and deliver for Liverpool

One of the significant reasons as to why the transition between Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot has been smooth is the Dutchman keeping his selection consistent.

Slot has stuck with the majority of the same starting line-up from the opening win at Ipswich, with only minor tweaks here and there.

He has already had to deal with losing his first-choice goalkeeper earlier in the season, but now Alisson will be sidelined again during a tough run of fixtures. The Brazilian has suffered another hamstring problem and will be missing for a month, during which time Liverpool face their biggest tests of the season.

It starts against the Blues in the Premier League on Sunday, before they travel to RB Leipzig in the Champions League. That’s followed by trips to Arsenal in the league and Brighton in the EFL Cup, before a home clash with the Seagulls, a Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen and then a test at home to Aston Villa.

Caoimhin Kelleher will be asked to fill the void between the posts, with the Republic of Ireland international set to make his second Premier League start of the season on Sunday.

The 25-year-old will have to try and keep at bay a Chelsea team that have scored 16 goals in their seven league games to date.

Liverpool vs Chelsea team news

The selection of Kelleher might not be the only change forced upon Slot, with the Reds boss waiting on the fitness of midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

The former Brighton man missed Argentina’s draw with Venezuela after suffering a muscle problem in the win at Crystal Palace. Mac Allister did start the 6-0 win over Bolivia on Wednesday, playing for 66 minutes, so Slot will have to assess his fitness when he returns to Merseyside.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk returned from international duty earlier than expected and should be available for the 4:30pm kick-off.

Chelsea will be without two defensive regulars for the trip to Anfield, with Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana serving one-game bans after reaching five bookings. Enzo Maresca is expected to select Tosin Adarabioyo and Renato Veiga to replace the suspended pair.

Long-term injury absentee Reece James is back in training, but Sunday’s game may come too soon for his first-team return.

Liverpool vs Chelsea predicted XIs:

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Jota, Diaz.