Matchup: Chelsea vs Liverpool
Competition: English Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London, UK
Date & Time: Saturday, October 3, 5:30pm BST (16:30 GMT)
Coverage: Tune in to Al Jazeera Sport from 11:15 GMT for pre-match analysis, followed by live text commentary.
Premier League holders Liverpool face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, aiming to bounce back after a rare dip in form under their new manager, Arne Slot.
Slot, who took over from the beloved Jurgen Klopp, guided Liverpool to a record-tying league title last season in his debut campaign. However, recent setbacks have sparked debate about how smoothly the club’s managerial transition is unfolding this term.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are eager to capitalize on their FIFA Club World Cup triumph earlier this year, despite a somewhat rocky start to their domestic season.
Here’s an in-depth preview of this weekend’s key Premier League fixture.
Chelsea’s Outlook on Hosting Liverpool
Despite Liverpool’s consecutive defeats in recent matches, Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca emphasized on Friday that the reigning champions remain a formidable challenge.
Liverpool began the season with an impressive five-game winning streak but stumbled with losses against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Chelsea, currently eighth and seven points behind Liverpool, have also faced difficulties, dropping their last two league games. However, they will look to build on their recent 1-0 Champions League victory over Benfica at Stamford Bridge.
“Every team has vulnerabilities, not just Liverpool,” Maresca remarked. “If a team wins every match, catching them is impossible. Their recent losses reveal some weaknesses, but playing Liverpool is always a tough task.”
Chelsea’s Discipline Under Scrutiny
Chelsea’s campaign has been hampered by disciplinary setbacks, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez receiving an early red card in their 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, and Trevoh Chalobah sent off during last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
“Red cards have cost us crucial points, combined with injuries-we currently have eight players sidelined,” Maresca explained. “It’s a challenging mix, but we’re confident we’ll regain our footing soon.”
Maresca Reflects on Chelsea’s Early Season Form
Having steered Chelsea to UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup victories this year, Maresca remains optimistic despite the team’s struggles.
“It’s natural to face challenges. Being Chelsea’s manager doesn’t mean everything will fall into place immediately. Adaptation and growth are essential,” he said.
“Liverpool are currently the best team in England, proven by their title win. We’re progressing and addressing issues, and I’m confident we’ll be competitive by season’s end.”
Alisson’s injury rules him out of @LFC‘s trip to Chelsea this weekend 🤕
How does Liverpool’s record differ with and without their Brazilian goalkeeper? pic.twitter.com/CUjImBTlvw– Premier League (@premierleague) October 2, 2025
Liverpool Hit by Alisson’s Injury
Following his injury in the midweek defeat to Galatasaray, Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed that goalkeeper Alisson will miss the upcoming Premier League clash with Chelsea and will not join Brazil’s squad for friendlies against South Korea and Japan in October.
“His recovery timeline is uncertain. He won’t be available on Saturday or for Brazil’s matches, and it’s unlikely he’ll feature in the first game after the international break against Manchester United,” Slot stated.
This situation opens the door for Georgia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, who joined Liverpool from Valencia in the offseason, to start in goal.
Liverpool’s View on Their Recent Performances
Slot acknowledged that Liverpool’s recent back-to-back losses mark only the second such occurrence since his appointment in summer 2024.
He noted that opponents have begun to decipher Liverpool’s tactics, a trend that started in the latter half of last season when the team was already en route to clinching the Premier League title.
With a hefty $570 million investment in new signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, Liverpool are still integrating their squad.
Slot highlighted the importance of set pieces as a strategic tool to break down defenses, calling it the “new reality” in the Premier League.
“Jurgen Klopp left me a strong foundation, but teams have adapted to our style. Last season, set pieces helped us overcome defensive blocks, but we haven’t fully capitalized on that yet this season,” he explained.
Recap of the Last Chelsea vs Liverpool Encounter
The most recent Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge on May 4 saw Chelsea triumph 3-1.
Enzo Fernandez and an own goal by Jarell Quansah gave Chelsea a two-goal cushion by halftime. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk scored late to narrow the gap, but Cole Palmer’s penalty in stoppage time sealed the victory for the Blues.
Head-to-Head Overview
This fixture marks the 199th clash between Chelsea and Liverpool, with Liverpool leading the series with 83 wins to Chelsea’s 66.
Chelsea’s last victory ended a ten-match winless streak against Liverpool, during which the Reds had claimed three wins.
Chelsea Injury and Suspension Report
Chelsea will be without defenders Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo, alongside defensive midfielder Dario Essugo, who is recovering from thigh surgery.
“We currently have four or five defenders sidelined, so we’ll need to adapt and find the best solutions for tomorrow’s game,” Maresca said.
Forward Liam Delap and midfielders Cole Palmer and Andrey Santos are also out due to injuries.
Trevoh Chalobah is suspended following his red card against Brighton, but Pedro remains eligible despite his recent sending off in midweek.
Liverpool Squad Update
Alisson and Hugo Ekitike are sidelined following the midweek defeat, though Alisson’s thigh injury is not yet fully ruled out.
Federico Chiesa may return from a minor injury, while Giovanni Leoni continues his long-term recovery from an ACL tear.
Projected Chelsea Starting XI
Robert Sanchez; Reece James, Frank Acheampong, Benoît Badiashile, Marc Cucurella; Enzo Fernandez, Mo Caicedo; Estevao, Matias Buonanotte, Neto; Pedro
Likely Liverpool Starting XI
Giorgi Mamardashvili; Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Kristijan Kerkez; Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch; Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo; Alexander Isak
