BBC Pidgin of Friday, 20 January 2023

Source: BBC

Liverpool vs Chelsea – Prediction, team news & time for EPL match

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea manager Graham Potter Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea manager Graham Potter

Liverpool go play Chelsea for Anfield for di first game on Saturday for Premier League.

Di game go kick off by 1:30pm West African Time.

Dis na wetin you need to know about di ogbonge game for Anfield.

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp go give update on di fitness of Darwin Nunez, wey get thigh injury, during in Friday press conference.

Long-term absentees Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk all still no dey fit.

Chelsea fit give Mykhailo Mudryk in debut but Joao Felix dey serve im second of im three-match ban.

Dia players Reece James and Ben Chilwell don return to training dis week but dem dey unlikely to play.

CHRIS SUTTON PREDICTION

How possible e dey for you to call dis game? Both sides dey really inconsistent dis season and it is impossible to know what they will do next.

I no dey convinced by Liverpool for a while now, because of their lack of energy and legs for midfield, and dia defeat for Brighton last weekend no even be big surprise.

I know say di Reds beat Wolves for FA Cup but I neva see anything wey go make me think say dem go bounce back and win their first league match of 2023.

Na similar story wit Chelsea because we no know which Blues team go turn up for Anfield.

Dem get an important win over Crystal Palace last time out but dem need some big saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga to help dem.

A wibn

go boost confidence for both teams but e hard to make a case for either of them to take three points.

Prediction: 1-1

MATCH FACTSHead-to-head

  • Liverpool don lose just two of di past 15 Premier League meetings (W6, D7).


  • Di two sides fit draw three consecutive league games against each oda for the first time.


  • Di last time dem meet for Premier League while both of dem been dey outside di top eight na October 2015 -Na Liverpool win 3-1, dat na dia first league victory under Jurgen Klopp.


  • Liverpool

  • Liverpool fit lose dia opening three league matches in a calendar year for di first time since 1953.


  • Di Reds fit concede for nine straight Premier League games for di first time since May to October 2016.


  • Jurgen Klopp side don chop 25 league goals, just one less than di whole of last season.


  • If they fail to win dis game, e mean say Liverpool go get dia lowest points tally at di halfway stage of a Premier League campaign since 2014-15.


  • Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez don score 10 of Liverpool last 11 goals for Anfield in all competitions, excluding own goals.


  • Chelsea

  • Chelsea don only win twice in 10 Premier League fixtures (D3, L5).


  • Di Blues dey without a win in five successive away league games (D2, L3). Na dia worst run since 2015.


  • Chelsea tally of 22 goals na dia fewest at di halfway stage of a Premier League season since 1995-96.


  • Graham Potter fit emulate Ron Atkinson and Kevin Keegan by becoming di third English manager to win a Premier League away match for Anfield wit two clubs.


  • Mykhailo Mudryk dey set to become di second Ukrainian to make a Premier League appearance for Chelsea, afta Andriy Shevchenko.


  • Cesar Azpilicueta dey set to make im 500th appearance for di Blues dis weekend.