Chelsea vs Liverpool

Stamford Bridge forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering 2023/24 Premier League curtain-raiser between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Chelsea cannot forget last season soon enough after their joint-worst 12th-place Premier League finish since 1993/94 condemned them to a first season without European football. Yet a lack of continental action could be a blessing in disguise for new manager Mauricio Pochettino, who had the misfortune of losing his marquee summer signing Christopher Nkunku to injury during an extensive pre-season. Pochettino has inherited a highly dysfunctional side that won just one in their final 14 Premier League matches at the tail-end of last season (D4, L7). Moreover, you’d need to go back to early March for Chelsea’s most recent competitive triumph at the Bridge, with the ‘Blues’ heading into proceedings winless in their last eight home outings, all competitions included (D4, L4). It’s also worth noting they failed to score four times during that eight-match sequence.

Meanwhile, after missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time since his first season in charge back in 2015/16 last term, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has overseen a massive squad overhaul in the summer. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left Anfield, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai coming in. Whether it’s about the changes or something else, but the ‘Reds’ thrived in pre-season, netting 3+ goals in all five friendlies. Moreover, Liverpool finished last season on an eye-catching 11-match unbeaten run in the Premier League (W7, D4), which included a scoreless draw against Chelsea. Interestingly, Liverpool’s last four league meetings with the ‘Blues’ have ended level.