Liverpool plays just its third Premier League game of 2024 tonight, and it’s a big one. Chelsea will be welcomed to Anfield.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side has taken on the curious role of potential king-maker. Marauded down in ninth, it will not be troubling the Champions League picture, but its expensively-assembled squad is still capable of inflicting damage on title challengers. Liverpool drew the reverse fixture, while Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal have all dropped points against Chelsea as well.
But Jürgen Klopp will be more determined than ever to end a tedious sequence of draws against the Blues. With a fixture against Arsenal looming at the weekend, it’s an absolutely pivotal week for Liverpool’s title hopes, and it could even be argued that this game is more important than the corresponding fixture at Wembley next month in the Carabao Cup final.
With that in mind, Klopp has some major selection decisions to make. Boosted by a series of injury returns, the XI does not quite pick itself in the way it has done over the last few weeks, with the choice between Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez a key dilemma. These are the teams that some of our Liverpool.com writers would select.
The big game against Arsenal at the weekend will be in people’s minds but this one is unlikely to be easy. Chelsea has some good players and Liverpool will need to be at it.
I’m bringing Trent Alexander-Arnold back into the side at full-back and I’m going to give Andy Robertson an hour as well. Joe Gomez can get the Arsenal match and he could probably do with a rest having played so much lately.
Imidfield, it’s easy enough. Dominik Szoboszlai looked sharp against Norwich and Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones make up the rest of the first-choice trio. Diogo Jota looks to be the best option on the right of the attack and Darwin Núñez edges out Cody Gakpo down the middle for me. Luis Díaz will start on the left.
