Liverpool’s right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and forward Darwin Nunez do not start against Chelsea. Both of them are named on the bench at Anfield in what promises to be an enthralling Premier League clash.
In this encounter, two football heavyweights square off in a mid-table showdown. Liverpool is in ninth place in the Premier League table, while Chelsea is in tenth spot. Both teams will seek to get back on track to compete for a spot in the top four where they rightly belong.
Liverpool’s key players are yet to find their footing and perform to their normal levels. Some first-team players are out injured, but those that are available need to live up to the standards that they’ve set for themselves in the past. They look nothing like their former selves who were in a quadruple chase.
Alexander-Arnold’s being on the bench is because the right-back is nursing a minor injury worry. He missed a few training sessions throughout the week and did not want to be risked right from the start. He has been a shadow of himself, and a short break with a point to prove might do him some good.
The story is quite similar for Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez. He returned to training only on Thursday. This was after a hamstring injury, and similarly will not be risked from the start against Chelsea. His energy is something that Liverpool might miss in a game like this. He has had a decent start to life at Liverpool but is under pressure, given a lower-than-expected conversion rate.
This is going to be a challenging game for either side. Both sides would not want to lose and try to stay in the hunt for a spot in the top four. On the other hand, we could be in for a match fought in midfield, which could be settled by individual brilliance. What do you think will the outcome of this game be? Do let us know in the comments section below.