Liverpool v Chelsea LIVE: Crisis-hit Blues head to Anfield for crucial Premier League clash in European race | OneFootball

'Chelsea in a back four'

Richard Jolly is our man on the ground at Anfield today.

The teamsheet suggested Chelsea would have a back five but it seems more of a back four, with Marc Cucurella on the left of midfield. Andrey Santos is often following Dominik Szoboszlai around.

Richard Jolly at Anfield9 May 2026 12:35

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea, 3 mins

It looks like Chelsea may be playing with a back four, with Hato at left-back and Cucurella playing further forward. I’m sure that will be fluid though.

Liverpool controlling possession early on but they give the ball away in their own half, Palmer darts into the box to the left of the goal and has a cross-shot that is divingly plucked out of the air by Mamardashvili.

Luke Baker9 May 2026 12:34

Liverpool vs Chelsea teams

Here’s a reminder of today’s team news.

Rio Ngumoha starts for Liverpool, with Florian Wirtz out ill and Alexander Isak only deemed fit enough for the bench.

Levi Colwill starts his first game this season for Chelsea after recovering from injury but Reece James is only on the bench. They’re still bereft of wingers due to injury, so who knows how they’ll line up...

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Gakpo

Chelsea XI: Jorgenson; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Hato; Caicedo, Santos, Enzo; Palmer, Pedro

Luke Baker9 May 2026 12:28

The Jurgen Klopp blueprint Arne Slot must follow to rescue floundering Liverpool

While things haven’t been quite as catastrophic at Liverpool, it’s been a hugely disappointing title defence for the Reds.

Richard Jolly digs into how they can sort the problems out and Arne Slot can save his job:

Luke Baker9 May 2026 12:22

McFarlane insists Chelsea players haven't down tools

Interim boss Calum McFarlane has denied accusations that Chelsea’s players have ‘downed tools’ this season.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, McFarlane bristled at the suggestion that his team - who have lost six straight Premier League games - have thrown in the towel.

“No, I wouldn’t agree with that,” said McFarlane. “The performances haven’t been good enough, we’re in a really bad run at the moment.

“But I do see these boys every day, every training session, every meeting, in the gym, they are in a good place to go and attack games.

“We just haven’t been able to translate that on the game on Monday, so hopefully we can improve that on Saturday.”

Chelsea have been in diabolical form (Reuters)

Luke Baker9 May 2026 12:17

Calum McFarlane: 'We have a lot of faith in Filip Jorgensen'

Interim Chelsea boss Calum McFarlane has spoken to TNT Sports ahead of today’s clash about his team selection, including injuries, the return of Levi Colwill and back-up Filip Jorgensen starting in goal.

On the lack of wingers available in the squad: “There's nothing we can do about that. We've got players that are carrying injuries, so we've just had to be creative in how we line the team up and make sure we've got enough threat.

On Filip Jorgensen: “We have a lot of faith in Filip. Everyone talked about the mistake in the PSG game but he was amazing in the game before that against Aston Villa, that we won 4-1. So he's got a lot of talent. We have a lot of trust in him and we trust him.

On Levi Colwill returning: “We’re delighted to have Levi back. It's been a long road. He's been unbelievable and I'm really happy that he gets back in, starting a Premier League game. We've missed him. He adds a lot with his experience, his leadership and his quality. He's got everything you need in a centre-back.”

Filip Jorgensen starts between the sticks (Getty)

Luke Baker9 May 2026 12:01

Who wants to be Chelsea manager? Incoherent buying and clueless ownership make it the impossible job

Liverpool have faced Bruno Saltor. Now for Calum McFarlane. There will be an interim manager in the Chelsea dugout today; not for the first time in this fixture, given that Saltor’s only game in charge, following Graham Potter’s sacking and before Frank Lampard became a slightly more permanent caretaker, was a 0-0 draw against Liverpool in 2023.

If their owners are engaging in the “self-reflection” they promised after Liam Rosenior’s sacking, they may care to note that as many people have taken charge of Chelsea in their four-year ownership – eight – as have led Liverpool this millennium; and that is including Phil Thompson, who only assumed the reins because Gerard Houllier was ill.

Or perhaps, still convinced of their genius, they are simultaneously preparing their next managerial appointment while finding more loopholes to avoid breaching financial regulations now it is apparent they won’t have Champions League football next season; something for which Liverpool, whose passage back into Europe has been eased by Chelsea’s run of six straight defeats, can be very grateful.

Luke Baker9 May 2026 11:50