Premier League: 3 Liverpool players Chelsea wish they had

This weekend’s biggest Premier League fixture undoubtedly takes place on Sunday, as Liverpool play host to Chelsea at Anfield. Despite both sides being part of the Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’, fortunes could hardly have gone more differently for the two teams in 2018/19.

Despite a good start to the season, Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea have shown inconsistent form since the autumn, with his vaunted ‘Sarri-ball’ system showing a lot of flaws, and this has resulted in the Blues being miles off the pace in terms of the title race.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on the other hand have almost been perfect outside of the odd blip; his squad have performed tremendously all season and could still win the Premier League – in other seasons without Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City being so strong, they may have already done it.

Part of the reason for Chelsea’s struggles this season has been down to the personnel that Sarri has used; the Italian has been criticised for not using young stars like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek enough, but it’s also hard to deny that the Blues’ squad overall isn’t as strong as it has been in the past.

With that in mind, here are 3 Liverpool players that Chelsea would love to be able to call upon right now.

#1 Virgil Van Dijk

Chelsea's defence would be far stronger if they had Virgil Van Dijk

One of the likeliest candidates for the Premier League’s Player of the Year award, Virgil Van Dijk is arguably the best defender in the league – if not the world – right now, and since joining Liverpool for a huge £75m fee from Southampton in January 2018, he’s strengthened the Reds’ back line beyond belief and made them look almost impregnable at times.

The big Dutchman’s defensive statistics are simply incredible – this season alone he’s completed 33 successful tackles, 38 interceptions, 178 clearances, he’s blocked 17 shots and he’s only given away 12 fouls. And that’s without mentioning his record at the other end of the pitch – Van Dijk has also scored 3 league goals and made one assist too.

Not only this, but he’s an incredible leader on the pitch, and having him around has clearly helped improve the likes of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

It’s no surprise then that Liverpool have the Premier League’s tightest defence – they’ve conceded just 20 goals all season, 14 less than Chelsea, who have seen the likes of David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen all struggle from the centre-back positions in 2018/19.

Would Chelsea have suffered adverse results such as their 4-0 thumping at the hands of Bournemouth had they been able to call upon Van Dijk? It’s highly unlikely.

#2 Andrew Robertson

Andrew Robertson might be the Premier League's best left-back

One of the most highly criticised players in Chelsea’s usual starting line-up this season has been Spanish left-back Marcos Alonso. While Alonso was outstanding as Chelsea’s left-wing back under previous manager Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system, Maurizio Sarri’s switch to a 4-3-3 has exposed him as being painfully limited in terms of his defensive play, and he’s looked woefully inadequate on numerous occasions this season – most notably in Chelsea’s 6-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Sarri has tried using Emerson in the position instead, but the Brazilian full-back has also not really shown the kind of form to make him the best option for the Blues. Liverpool on the other hand have been able to call upon arguably the best left-back in the country right now in the form of Scotland’s Andrew Robertson.

Simply put, Robertson has looked superior to Alonso in every single way this season; not only has he provided a more robust defensive option for the Reds – who have let less goals in than Chelsea and have always looked more sturdy at the back – but his marauding runs down the flank have also led to him making 9 assists to Alonso’s 4.

According to the stats, Robertson also makes more key passes per game, makes more successful dribbles per game and loses the ball less than Alonso too. There can be no doubt, then, that Sarri would probably love to have Robertson in his team – and he’d almost certainly be in the starting line-up.

#3 Sadio Mane

Maurizio Sarri would surely love to have Sadio Mane in his team

Mohamed Salah might’ve struggled in front of goal this season at times – despite scoring 18 Premier League goals – but one man who’s stepped up for Liverpool big time in 2018/19 is Salah’s fellow forward Sadio Mane. The Senegalese attacker has been fantastic this season, often acting as Liverpool’s focal attacking point, and he’s popped up with many important goals along the way.

Chelsea on the other hand have relied heavily on Eden Hazard thus far – the Belgian is clearly one of the Premier League’s most outstanding performers – but Hazard has often played as a more central attacker this season, meaning the Blues have also had to lean on the ageing duo of Willian and Pedro too.

It’s not that either Willian or Pedro have had terrible seasons – both men have showed flashes of brilliance, Pedro most notably against Tottenham in February. But they’ve also been painfully inconsistent at times, and to compare their statistics to Mane’s is completely eye-opening.

Mane has 17 Premier League goals; more than Willian’s 3 and Pedro’s 8 combined – and while Willian has made 6 assists to Mane’s 1, the Senegalese star completes more dribbles, draws more fouls and clearly creates more of a problem for opposing defences than either man.

Chelsea might have a diamond for the future in the form of Callum Hudson-Odoi in the wide forward positions, but right now – aside from Hazard – there are none better in the Premier League than Mane. And Maurizio Sarri would almost certainly love to be able to use him in his side this weekend – instead of having to defend against his talents.