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Liverpool will host Chelsea at Anfield on Thursday as the race for the top four heats up in the 2020-21 Premier League.
The Reds ended a wretched run of results in the league with a win against Sheffield United in their last game. They will now look to build some momentum in the coming weeks to have a strong finish to their campaign.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are unbeaten under new manager Thomas Tuchel but have failed to win their last two league games. Two successive draws has seen them drop out of the top four, but they will look to bounce back against Liverpool.
The two sides have produced some entertaining games in recent years, and another thriller could be in the offing at Anfield. On that note, let’s take a look at five players from either team to watch out for when Liverpool host Chelsea:
#5 Fabinho (Liverpool)
Liverpool have missed their midfield enforcer in his natural position. Fabinho was used in a makeshift centre-back role, as the Reds did not have any fit senior centre-backs for a while. That robbed them of Fabinho's ability to win the ball in midfield and put in tackles to break play.
His return from injury has perhaps come at the right time, as Liverpool enter a crucial stage of the season. The Reds need their consistency back and require players in their natural positions to potentially mount a challenge for the Champions League places and finish in the top four.
At Anfield, Fabinho is likely to come up against an aggressive Chelsea attack on Thursday. While playing out from the back will be crucial, he will also have a big role in trying to break the Chelsea forwards from stringing together moves in the attacking third.
#4 Timo Werner (Chelsea)
Timo Werner nearly joined Liverpool last summer, but the Reds decided against spending big money on the German international. A move to Chelsea followed, but Werner hasn’t been able to score enough goals.
Werner’s overall game-play has improved under compatriot Thomas Tuchel, but considering Chelsea aren’t scoring too many, he needs to find the back of the net.
The German striker has been played up front alongside another forward and in a slightly withdrawn role as an inside forward. The latter position has allowed Werner to pick the ball up from a deeper area to attack the space.
It’s likely that he could be used in a forward role against Liverpool, and Werner could have a few openings on Thursday.
The duo of Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak are still new as a Liverpool centre-back pairing and aren’t the quickest too. Moreover, Liverpool play high, so if Werner can get in behind and show some composure, he could add a few goals to his tally at Anfield.
#3 Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool)
Under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea play a high pressing system, but against Liverpool, they will come up against one of the best midfielders in the league in Thiago Alcantara.
The Spaniard is perhaps one of the best in negotiating the press as well, as his technique and dribbling ability allow him to evade players with ease.
It will be interesting to see how Liverpool approach the game and use Alcantara. The Spaniard can play a quarter-back role with ease, and against a team that plays a high line, he could be deadly if his distribution is good.
Alcantara dominated Chelsea in the reverse fixture, albeit against ten men. If he is in the groove, Liverpool could find it a lot more easy to play through the Chelsea press.
#2 Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Mason Mount is perhaps one of the most underrated attackers in the Chelsea team, but he could be a key player against Liverpool.
He has managed four goals and three assists in the Premier League so far while averaging 2.5 key passes a game. The stats show his importance to Chelsea, but his off-the-ball work simply cannot be quantified.
Liverpool’s defence is there for the taking, and their midfield will look different in Jordan Henderson’s absence. With his passing ability and off-the-ball movement, Mount could be a major threat to the Liverpool defence.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah continues to impress for the Reds despite his side’s inconsistent form this season. The Egyptian has scored five goals in his last seven games in all competitions and will fancy his chances against the Chelsea defence.
Despite what’s been written in the media, Salah’s understanding with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino has been pretty good this season. If the trio can combine well in attack, Salah could add to his goals tally against Chelsea.
The Egyptian’s footwork and finishing ability sets him apart from the rest of the players in the Liverpool squad, and he will look to help his team overcome the Blues.
