Ben Chilwell And Benoit Badiashile To Start; Levi Colwill Out: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Liverpool

Chelsea know they have a job on their hands if they want to secure a result against Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

The league leaders have not lost at home this season, having dropped only four points in two draws against Manchester United and Arsenal.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men will need to produce one of their best performances of the season to pull off an upset.

Press the next page as we predict Chelsea’s starting lineup for the game at Anfield.

GK – Djordje Petrovic

The Serbian was in excellent form against Aston Villa last time out, making four very good saves to prevent Chelsea’s opponents from breaking the deadlock.

Petrovic’s fingertip stop from Matty Cash was probably the best of the bunch, and he has certainly made a strong case for himself keeping the No.1 jersey for the long term.

Robert Sanchez returned to training on Monday after nearly two months out with a knee injury, but the Spanish international has it all to do to get his place back in the team.

Petrovic will stay in the starting lineup to face Liverpool and, as long as he doesn’t make any mistakes, you can’t see him being dropped by Pochettino.

RB – Axel Disasi

Malo Gusto is not expected to return to the matchday squad for the trip to Anfield.

There was some hope that the Frenchman would recover from the muscular injury that has kept him out of Chelsea’s last two fixtures. However, the fullback is still not training.

Alfie Gilchrist put in an admirable performance against Villa after getting the late call to replace the injured Levi Colwill in the starting lineup. However, he may have to settle for a place on the bench on Wednesday.

Disasi performed well at right-back against Middlesbrough and Pochettino may move him back there after he was deployed at centre-half versus Villa.

CB – Thiago Silva

The Brazilian didn’t have one of his best games against Villa, nearly scoring an own goal.

However, with Levi Colwill losing his fitness battle, and Disasi needed to cover at right-back, Silva will start in the centre of defence at Anfield.

The 39-year-old’s experience will certainly be needed as Chelsea face a Liverpool team who have been very prolific in front of goal recently.

Keeping the likes of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota quiet won’t be easy but the Blues will have a better chance of keeping a clean sheet with Silva on the pitch.

CB – Benoit Badiashile

As already mentioned, Colwill is unlikely to be available for the trip to Merseyside. He didn’t take part in training on Monday suggesting his hamstring is still troubling him.

With that being the case, Badiashile is the player who is the likeliest to partner Silva in the middle of defence.

The Frenchman was forced into playing at left-back for the first time against Villa. He did a decent enough job, even though he was rather limited in terms of his offensive play.

Vice-captain Ben Chilwell is expected to return to the starting lineup on Wednesday evening so Badiashile will be free to move back into a more natural position.

LB – Ben Chilwell

Pochettino had to protect Chilwell’s fitness, so the fullback only played 30 minutes against Villa in the FA Cup last week.

With 5 days between fixtures, though, the England international should be ready to start at Anfield.

Chilwell was excellent against Middlesbrough in his first game back after a lengthy spell out with a hamstring injury.

The 27-year-old does give the team an added dimension going forward when he plays, offering another threat out wide.

CM – Moises Caicedo

We have begun to see the very best of the Ecuadorian international as a holding midfielder in recent games.

In the FA Cup, Villa clearly targeted him in order to rob him of the ball and start counter-attacks. However, Caicedo got himself out of trouble on more than one occasion and won a few fouls as a result.

Out of possession, the 21-year-old showed his work rate and made life difficult for Villa’s midfielders by winning tackles and making interceptions.

To get a result at Anfield, Caicedo will need to be at his absolute best. Liverpool’s press is probably superior to Villa’s so he will be under pressure all night.

CM – Enzo Fernandez

Slowly but surely, the Argentinian international is beginning to find a level of consistency in his game.

Against Villa, Fernandez created one good chance for Noni Madueke, which the winger should have done a lot better with.

The midfielder also produced some sumptuous long passes as well as helping his team control possession. However, you do still feel the 23-year-old can go up another level.

Along with Caicedo, Chelsea need Fernandez to perform if they are to come away with any points from Anfield.

AM – Conor Gallagher

Christopher Nkunku is now back available for selection after recovering from a hip injury.

However, after spending a month on the sidelines, Pochettino won’t risk the Frenchman’s fitness by putting him back in the starting eleven straight away.

The Blues boss could pick Cole Palmer as the no.10, but it’s more likely that Gallagher will get the nod because of his industry.

The 23-year-old does, however, need to offer a lot more in possession if he is to keep his starting place in the long term.

RW – Cole Palmer

The playmaker didn’t have one of his most effective games against Villa, which is slightly disappointing after starring in the previous fixture versus Middlesbrough.

At 21 years of age, it is understandable that there is still some inconsistency in Palmer’s game, but Pochettino will be hoping he steps up to the plate against Liverpool.

Andy Robertson is back to full fitness after three and a half months out with a dislocated shoulder. He could well be given his first start on Wednesday.

The Scotland captain is lacking match sharpness so Palmer will be hoping to take advantage down the right flank.

CF – Armando Broja

Pochettino chose to play without a striker against Villa, with Palmer as the false nine.

Chelsea seem to play better and score more goals with a focal point and, with Broja the only recognised senior striker in the squad, the Albanian international could be recalled.

The forward is lacking confidence at the moment, and he could do with scoring a goal.

Broja’s main task at Anfield, though, will be to lead the line and bring others into the game with his hold-up play.

LW – Raheem Sterling

The 29-year-old is looking like a real threat with his direct runs from the wing.

Sterling doesn’t always get things right with his decision-making and his final ball, but he does offer a lot more than the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has recently returned to fitness following a knee injury, so he could be recalled on Wednesday evening.

It will be an intriguing battle between Sterling and Alexander-Arnold if both players start.