🏟️ Liverpool vs Chelsea Preview (9 May) – Premier League Prediction, Team News & Lineups

Liverpool return to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime with Champions League qualification still within reach, but not yet secured. Arne Slot’s side missed the chance to make the top five certain at Old Trafford last weekend, losing a bruising 3-2 thriller to Manchester United, and now face a Chelsea team whose own season is beginning to unravel at speed.

For Liverpool, this is a chance to steady the mood and move back towards Europe’s top table. For Chelsea, it is about arresting a collapse that has turned a once-promising campaign into an anxious final few weeks. Two heavyweights meet with very different pressures — one trying to confirm status, the other trying to rediscover identity. ⚽🔥

Match preview

Liverpool: A response required at Anfield

Liverpool’s defeat at Manchester United hurt on several levels. It ended a three-match Premier League winning streak, denied the reigning champions the chance to secure Champions League qualification and increased scrutiny on Slot after another major away-day disappointment.

There was fight in the performance. Liverpool came from 2-0 down at Old Trafford, punishing defensive lapses to drag themselves level, only for Kobbie Mainoo to strike the decisive goal late on. Slot was furious about a handball controversy involving Benjamin Sesko, but the underlying performance was not strong enough to claim Liverpool were robbed of the points.

Now the equation is clearer. Sitting fourth with 58 points, six ahead of Bournemouth and seven clear of Brentford, Liverpool can confirm their Champions League place if they beat Chelsea and Bournemouth fail to win at Fulham.

Anfield should help. Liverpool have taken 10 points from the last 12 available in Premier League home matches, and while defensive perfection has been rare — just one clean sheet in their last seven at home — the Reds still carry enough attacking thrust to overwhelm struggling opponents.

The concern is availability. Mohamed Salah remains out, Alexander Isak is doubtful, and Florian Wirtz is also a question mark after missing training. If Liverpool are light in attack, Slot may have to trust Cody Gakpo, Jeremie Frimpong and teenage winger Rio Ngumoha to provide the movement and spark.

This feels like the sort of fixture Liverpool must control early. A fast start would settle the crowd and put real pressure on a Chelsea side whose confidence has almost disappeared. 🏟️

Chelsea: A season sliding towards crisis

Chelsea arrive at Anfield in the worst form of any Premier League club. Six straight league defeats have turned their campaign into an exercise in damage limitation, and their faint hopes of a top-five finish have now disappeared.

The latest setback came in a 3-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a result that felt even more bleak because Stamford Bridge was visibly flat by the time Joao Pedro scored a stoppage-time consolation. The goal did at least end Chelsea’s five-game scoreless league run, but it offered little genuine comfort after Forest had already taken command.

Chelsea’s recent list of conquerors is damning: Newcastle United, Everton, Manchester City, Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest have all beaten them across the last six league matchdays. The Blues now risk losing seven consecutive top-flight games for only the second time in their history, the previous run coming back in 1952.

There is still a possible European route to salvage. Chelsea are ninth but only four points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth, and sixth could yet carry Champions League value depending on Aston Villa’s league finish and Europa League campaign. But on current form, Chelsea look far from a side ready to seize that opportunity.

Calum McFarlane must also manage a bruised squad. Jesse Derry suffered a worrying head injury against Forest, while Robert Sanchez was involved in another collision and could miss out, potentially opening the door for Filip Jorgensen in goal.

The visitors do have some encouragement from this season’s head-to-head record, having beaten Liverpool twice at Stamford Bridge in 2025, including a 2-1 league win in October. But Anfield has been less kind, with Liverpool winning the last two meetings there.

Form guide 📊

Liverpool Premier League form:
Improved run halted by defeat at Manchester United

Liverpool form (all competitions):
Competitive but disrupted by injuries and inconsistency

Chelsea Premier League form:
Six consecutive defeats

Chelsea form (all competitions):
Severe slump, with attacking and defensive problems

Liverpool’s Anfield record gives them a clear platform, even if clean sheets have been hard to come by. Chelsea’s form is the major story: six league defeats in a row and only one goal scored across their last six Premier League matches.

Team news & predicted lineups 🧤

Liverpool

Liverpool remain without several important players. Mohamed Salah, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are all unavailable, while Hugo Ekitike is also sidelined with a long-term Achilles injury.

Alexander Isak is a doubt after picking up a minor groin problem before the trip to Manchester United. Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate are also uncertain after missing training, while Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili remain doubts or absentees.

If Konate is not ready, Joe Gomez could come into defence. If Wirtz misses out, Rio Ngumoha may get another opportunity in attack.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Frimpong, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Gakpo

Chelsea

Chelsea’s defeat to Forest was overshadowed by Jesse Derry’s head injury, and the teenager is not expected to be involved. Robert Sanchez also suffered a collision, so Filip Jorgensen could start in goal.

McFarlane will hope to have Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens available, although Estevao Willian and Mykhaylo Mudryk are unavailable.

Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro should remain central to Chelsea’s attacking plan, but confidence across the side is fragile.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; James, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro

Key stats & betting angles 🔍

• Liverpool can secure Champions League qualification if they beat Chelsea and Bournemouth drop points.
• Liverpool have taken 10 points from their last four Premier League home matches.
• The Reds have kept only one clean sheet in their last seven league games at Anfield.
• Chelsea have lost six consecutive Premier League matches.
• The Blues are at risk of losing seven league games in a row for only the second time in their history.
• Chelsea ended a five-game Premier League scoring drought against Nottingham Forest.
• Liverpool lost 3-2 to Manchester United last weekend after coming back from 2-0 down.
• Chelsea have beaten Liverpool twice at Stamford Bridge in 2025.
• Liverpool have won their last two home meetings with Chelsea.

Prediction ⚽

Liverpool have problems of their own, especially in attack, but this is still a fixture they should win. Anfield, Champions League motivation and Chelsea’s collapse all point towards a home response.

Chelsea may score if Liverpool’s defensive vulnerability continues, particularly with Palmer and Joao Pedro capable of producing moments even in a poor collective run. But the visitors’ confidence is so low that sustaining pressure over 90 minutes looks unlikely.

Expect Liverpool to start aggressively, use the crowd, and eventually punish Chelsea’s fragile structure.

Likely result: Liverpool win
Correct score: 2-1
Best betting angle: Liverpool to win / Both Teams to Score

Correct score prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Chelsea

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