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Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 37
Jul 22, 2020 at 8.15pm UK
Anfield
Chelsea logo

Liverpool
5 - 3
Chelsea

Keita (23'), Alexander-Arnold (38'), Wijnaldum (43'), Firmino (55'), Oxlade-Chamberlain (84')
Gomez (83')
FT(HT: 3-1)
Giroud (45+3'), Abraham (61'), Pulisic (73')

Combined XI: Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Ahead of Wednesday's Premier League clash between champions Liverpool and Champions League-chasing Chelsea, Sports Mole selects its strongest combined XI from the two squads.

Liverpool welcome rivals Chelsea to Anfield on Wednesday night on what could be a celebratory occasion for both teams.

The hosts will finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy after the game, having wrapped up a first top-flight title in 30 years with seven games to spare courtesy of a little help from Chelsea along the way too.

The visitors, meanwhile, know that victory would guarantee them a place in the Champions League next season with a game to spare, although they face a Liverpool side unbeaten in their last 58 league outings at Anfield.

Here, Sports Mole selects its strongest combined XI, using only players available for Wednesday's showdown.



Barney Corkhill's Liverpool vs. Chelsea Combined XI

Liverpool have not been in the best form of late - certainly compared to the rest of their incredible season - but the 30-point gap between these two sides in the table cannot be ignored when selecting this XI.

It is therefore no surprise to see the Merseysiders dominate the team, and the tone is set in goal where Alisson Becker is a simple choice ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga - the man who succeeded him as the world's most expensive keeper.

Alisson has been forced into more saves than Kepa this term - 55 to 53 - but has conceded fewer than half as many goals, with the Brazilian letting just 19 past him in 27 appearances while Kepa has shipped 42 in 32 outings.

A quick glance at the goals against column also tells you everything you need to know about the four in front of the keeper, with Liverpool as a team boasting the best defensive record in the division whereas Chelsea have the worst defensive record in the top half.

Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta was under serious consideration for a place in a back three, but there was never any doubt about the Liverpool quartet of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson being included.

The only Chelsea representative in this XI comes in midfield, where Mateo Kovacic has enjoyed a standout campaign for the Blues.

Frank Lampard has plenty of strength in depth in that area of the field, but N'Golo Kante is expected to miss the match and, in truth, it was only an injury to Jordan Henderson which prevented it from being a full house for Liverpool.

Fabinho has established himself as arguably the best holding midfielder in the league this season, while Georginio Wijnaldum has been another important member of their record-breaking and title-winning team to hold off competition from the likes of Mason Mount and Ross Barkley.

It is in attack where Chelsea may feel most aggrieved to not have players included; Christian Pulisic and Willian have both been in fine form of late, while Olivier Giroud's recent flurry of goals saw him emerge as a real contender to beat a misfiring Roberto Firmino to the centre-forward role.

However, Firmino offers so much more than goals to the team and those Chelsea forwards have the misfortune of being compared to one of the world's best attacking units in this instance, with Sadio Mane and former Blue Mohamed Salah completing the selection.

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Barney Corkhill
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Liverpool's front three Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane celebrate scoring against Crystal Palace in June 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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