Chelsea vs Liverpool predicted starting XI; Team news, kick-off time, injury, and covid update

Chelsea vs Liverpool predicted starting XI; Team news, kick-off time, injury, and covid update.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been handed a major boost after Thiago Silva and Timo Werner returned to full training ahead of Sunday’s clash Against Liverpool.

Thiago Silva was forced off against Aston Villa With a hamstring injury and it was feared he could be set for a spell on the sidelines, while Werner has been out with Covid.

But both are back in training to ease the injury crisis at Chelsea.

Kai Havertz has also trained this week as he steps up his recovery from illness with Reece James going for scanning to determine how long he’ll be out with a hamstring injury.

Andreas Christensen was also forced off against Brighton and is expected to be out.

Tuchel has confirmed Ben Chilwell is set to miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery.

Better news for Chelsea is the fact that N’Golo Kante was fit enough to make the bench after re-injuring his knee against Aston Villa.

Liverpool have three new suspected Covid cases in their squad ahead of their trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Liverpool will be without injured Thiago Alcantara and Takumi Minamino, who missed the 1-0 defeat at Leicester with muscle soreness.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita are available for what is likely to be the final time before they head off to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Andy Roberton is still suspended, with Konstantinos Tsimikas set to continue in his spot at left-back.

Chelsea predicted XI: Mendy, Silva, Chalobah, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Lukaku, Havertz

Liverpool predicted XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho Henderson, Keita; Salah, Jota, Mane.

Prediction

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

Kickoff; 17:30 (GMT)
Date: 2nd January 2022

In other news, Thomas Tuchel sends warning message to Liverpool ahead of clash

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