Chelsea vs Liverpool preview: all eyes on Cesc Fabregas in crunch game for Blues manager Jose Mourinho
A look ahead to Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge
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CESC FABREGAS: The Spanish midfielder’s form has been a huge concern of late, with the 28-year-old failing to score and getting just one assist this season. Last year he created 19 goals and his partnership with Nemanja Matic proved to be crucial to Chelsea’s title success. Fabregas has started every game for the Champions this season, but will have to dramatically improve in this one against a Liverpool side unbeaten in their last 10 matches.
Best stat…
60%: Liverpool have kept clean sheets in nine of their 15 away matches in the Premier League this calendar year, including three in five games this season. It will be interesting to see if Jürgen Klopp sacrifices some of their defensive stability in an attempt to score more goals away from home with the Reds failing to score more than once in 15 games on the road in all competitions.
Remember when…
These two sides were drawn against each other in the Champions League knockout stages for a third consecutive season and threw up a thriller in the 2008/09 quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge. After Chelsea won 3-1 at Anfield six days earlier, Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead in the first-half but were pegged back and the game eventually finished 4-4 to see the hosts progress into the last four.
Player to watch…
PHILIPPE COUTINHO: The talented attacking midfielder could flourish under the management of Jürgen Klopp and get close to replicating his outstanding form of last season. The 23-year-old was named in the PFA team of the year despite Liverpool finishing in sixth, but he has not been at his best in the early part of this season, failing to score since the opening weekend. The Brazilian will be a key figure if Liverpool are to have any chance of reaching the top four this season.
Past three-meetings…
Chelsea 1 (Terry) Liverpool 1 (Gerrard), Premier League, May 2015
Chelsea 1 (Ivanovic) Liverpool 0, Capital One Cup, January 2015
Liverpool 1 (Sterling) Chelsea 1 (Hazard), Capital One Cup, January 2015
Form guide…
Chelsea: LLWDLL*
Liverpool: DDDDDW
(* = lost on penalties after draw in normal time)
Vital information…
KICK-OFF TIME: 12.45pm, Saturday, 31 October
TV: Live on BT Sport 1, Highlights on BBC1 from 10.25pm
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