CHELSEA vs LIVERPOOL
Andreas Christensen will miss Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Liverpool after picking up a knock.
Kepa Arrizabalaga could be handed a chance in goal having been overlooked in recent weeks.
Tammy Abraham (ankle), N’Golo Kante (adductor), Christian Pulisic (adductor) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) are all still sidelined.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is fit again after recovering from the knock which saw him miss Saturday’s surprise league defeat at Watford.
James Milner is also back after sitting out two matches with a minor muscle injury. Fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson (hamstring), Naby Keita (hip) and Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) remain absent.
- Chelsea have beaten Liverpool in five of the past seven FA Cup encounters
- Liverpool have lost two of their last three matches in all competitions
- The Reds have reached the quarter-finals only twice since they last won the FA Cup since 2006
- Chelsea have kept clean sheets in five of their past six FA Cup ties at Stamford Bridge
Liverpool XI: Adrian, Williams, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Fabinho, Lallana, Jones, Minamino, Mane, Origi.
Subs: Lonergan, Milner, Firmino, Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Matip, Chirivella.
Really happy with the team
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “We make the changes because we can, we have the players for it. I wanted a team which is naturally looking forward to this game, not counting the days between games. Fresh legs, we want quality, we want positivity.
“I am really happy with the team, I like the team. Let’s get ready for it.
“We have had no time to show a response really, I can’t expect them to run like crazy in training. The players who played against Watford had to help the boys who play today.
“We lost a game, it felt not good, but it’s over. This is a different competition.”
What’s on?
So Arsenal were the first side to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup yesterday when beating Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Three more sides will make it into the final eight with Chelsea vs Liverpool, Reading vs Sheffield United and West Brom vs Newcastle on tonight’s programme.
There are three more fixtures AND the actual draw itself tomorrow night before Wayne Rooney takes on Manchester United as a Derby player.
Liverpool XI
Jurgen Klopp’s side are breaking all the rules this evening by announcing their starting XI 15 minutes before schedule. It’s caught me cold folks, I won’t lie.
A quick glance tells me Liverpool are taking this tie a lot more seriously than they have done in the previous rounds. Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson all present and correct. Full analysis coming up shortly.
Liverpool XI: Adrian, Williams, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Fabinho, Lallana, Jones, Minamino, Mane, Origi.
Subs: Lonergan, Milner, Firmino, Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Matip, Chirivella.
Evening…
Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Liverpool from Stamford Bridge.
It feels strange to write this but two out-of-form sides go head-to-head for a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have won just one of their last five fixtures in all competitions AND just one of their last four at home.
Liverpool, meanwhile, saw Watford bring a surprise end to their 44-match Premier League run at the weekend and, with a loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League two games previously, there has been a small stutter in the Reds’ imperious form this season.
Still, they remain still in the hunt for a treble so I think they’ll be rather happy with how things are going.
Team news and line ups on the way shortly. Standby…
CHELSEA vs LIVERPOOL
Andreas Christensen will miss Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Liverpool after picking up a knock.
Kepa Arrizabalaga could be handed a chance in goal having been overlooked in recent weeks.
Tammy Abraham (ankle), N’Golo Kante (adductor), Christian Pulisic (adductor) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) are all still sidelined.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is fit again after recovering from the knock which saw him miss Saturday’s surprise league defeat at Watford.
James Milner is also back after sitting out two matches with a minor muscle injury. Fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson (hamstring), Naby Keita (hip) and Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) remain absent.
Manager Jurgen Klopp is likely to include some fringe players at Stamford Bridge with Curtis Jones, Ki-Jana Hoever and Neco Williams remaining at home while Harvey Elliott has travelled with the Under-19s for their UEFA Youth League last-16 tie against Benfica in Portugal.
