Chelsea vs Liverpool: Five things to expect from the high-octane clash

Chelsea meet the UEFA Champions League 2017/18 finalists Liverpool in a very vital match of the English Premier League on 6th of May. This is a do-or-die situation for the Blues, if they want to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Chelsea's title defense has been dismal due to poor and inconsistent performances this season. They've already relinquished the Premier League title to Manchester City and currently sit in the fifth place in the league table. The chances of missing out on Champions League are very high and only a miracle will help Chelsea go through.

Liverpool, on the other hand, laboured into the UCL final and will meet holders Real Madrid in Kiev on 26th of May. They have been rejuvenated as one of the most potent attacking systems on the planet and currently occupy the third position on the table.

Here are the five things one should watch out for:

#1 The threat of Mohammed Salah

The Egyptian Pharaoh can become Premier League's top goalscorer in a single season.

Liverpool fans respect Mohammed Salah because of the impact he has had on the team and on the results. No one expected him to light up the league with his pace, goals and dribbling skills, like he has done.

Since joining the Reds, Salah has scored 43 goals and assisted 15 times. He has scored 31 goals in the Premier League and is tied with Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez, as the player to have scored the most goals in a single season.

Salah was a fringe player during his short stint as a Chelsea player. He never got adequate chances in a Blue jersey to prove his worth. He would be looking to add his name into the history books and he would be anxious to show the Chelsea fans, what they missed.

#2 Chelsea's golden opportunity

Chelsea's title defense has been very poor this season

Antonio Conte revolutionized the Premier League last season by his adept usage of 3-4-3 formation and led Chelsea to a second Premier League title in three years.

However things have turned worse for the Blues, who very much look like they will be missing out of the Champions League next season. This is a bad situation for a big club like Chelsea and many important players like Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante could leave the club in the summer in search of European football.

They however have a slim chance of qualifying. If they win all the remaining matches and Liverpool draw their last match, Chelsea can very much enter the top four. Tottenham sit five points ahead of them and a couple of losses or draws can hand Chelsea a lifeline.

Will the Blues play in the UCL next season? Only time will tell.

#3 Eden Hazard: The inconsistent assassin

The Belgian remains Chelsea's key player who can win matches of his own

Eden Hazard is a nightmare for defenders when he gets going with his incisive cutting-in from the flanks, dribbling skills and his capability to score deciding goals. However he hasn't been really good of late and has struggled to make much of an impact on many important fixtures since the turn of the year.

However, the rumors of Hazard going to Real Madrid this summer never cease. This is because the diminutive Belgian is nothing short of a world-class playmaker. He marshals the left wing and creates multiple goal-scoring opportunities with his vision.

After a dip in form, he has been looking sharp in the recent games and has assisted twice in his last four games along with scoring a goal. He could prove to be difference for Chelsea in the crucial match against Liverpool.

#4 The tactical battle: Conte vs Klopp

Who will come out of top in the battle of minds?

Antonio Conte's Chelsea may not be at their prime, but Conte is undoubtedly a shrewd tactician who knows how to win games.

Conte's style of play is mostly a cautious one, based on using three centre-backs as the heart of defense and attacking on the counter. The wing-backs have a vital role to play and they mix with the wingers to exploit the flanks to the maximum. Target men upfront do the damage, by finishing the crosses or assisting the arriving players from midfield.

Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, has a different approach. The team always remains ready to exploit the opponent's loss of possession and score goals on counter. Pressing high up the field forces the opponents to lose possession and the wingers cut in with devastating effect, sometimes even assisting the central striker and the attacking midfielders.

It will be interesting to see, who comes out on top.

#5 The attacking talent on display

The front three of Liverpool; Salah, Firmino and Mane are one of the best in Europe right now

Liverpool have been unstoppable this season. They have stormed into the Champions League final and have always scored many goals making it difficult for their opponents to stage a comeback.

They have the dependable Roberto Firmino as the centre forward, who is flanked by the pacy Sadio Mane and the dynamic Mohammed Salah. The trio forms the best attacking forward lineup in Europe right now. Captain Jorgan Henderson and the relentless James Milner control the midfield along with Georginio Wijnaldum.

Chelsea's attack has much varied options. Strikers Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud have been in good form of late, chipping in important goals. Willian and Eden Hazard are one of the best wingers on the planet, who can destroy opponents on their day.

Pedro is deployed as a winger or as an attacking midfielder along with the magician Cesc Fabregas, who makes up for his lack of pace with his excellent passing with his vision. N'Golo Kante, one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, functions in the pivot role.

Which side will come out on top? It is surely going to be one spectacle of a match, to watch.