MatchThe opposition lowdown: Chelsea

Recent form

Mauricio Pochettino's side were last in action on Friday night, playing out a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on home soil in the Emirates FA Cup.

In the midweek prior, the Blues secured a 6-1 victory over Championship outfit Middlesbrough in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup to set up a Wembley date with Liverpool next month.

In their last Premier League outing on January 13, they claimed a 1-0 victory over local rivals Fulham, with Cole Palmer netting to decide the contest.

The view from Chelsea

Nizaar Kinsella, football correspondent at the London Evening Standard

On Chelsea's season so far...

Chelsea's season has had some promise but many setbacks. The league's youngest squad have taken more time than people hoped to adapt and to be ninth after 21 Premier League matches is disappointing.

The Carabao Cup has, however, put a positive spin on the season so far, and a final against Liverpool is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for an under-pressure group.

On Chelsea's style of play and key player...

When it has clicked, you have seen that Mauricio Pochettino DNA that we all know from his time at Tottenham. Chelsea have played a high-intensity but possession-heavy style of football, which has, at times, had fluid attacking combinations on display.

Chelsea have had their best performances against the top teams, who allow them space to play without the same pressure to deliver a win. Cole Palmer has undoubtedly been the player of the season so far, having delivered 11 goals and seven assists since joining in the summer, with Raheem Sterling a close second behind him.

Predicted line-up

As usual, Chelsea will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but will likely play with Palmer as a false nine away at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Gallagher, Sterling; Palmer.

Previous meetings

The two teams last faced each other in the Premier League on the opening day of the 2023-24 campaign. Luis Diaz struck for Liverpool at Stamford Bridge before Axel Disasi's leveller in a 1-1 draw.

The last time the Blues visited Anfield, in January 2023, the teams were unable to be separated in a 0-0 stalemate on Merseyside.

What they said

Chelsea head coach Pochettino

"It's an amazing game to play, it's a great opportunity for us to face a team that is doing really well. We are excited. For us we want to win, I want to win the game. We go into the game just thinking about winning it.

"It's a special game for him [Jürgen Klopp]. Until the end it's going to be special. Every time they play at Anfield it is going to be a party to celebrate and give him all the love the fans feel for him, and I think he deserves it.

"But we are thinking to go there and win the game. Sorry, but we don't want to be involved as part of the celebration! We want to be party poopers, but that is on us to perform well and win the game."