2022-2023 PL: Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Here was the return fixture from earlier this year...

(The Guardian) Chelsea’s season has descended into chaos after they fired Graham Potter and began looking for their third manager since being bought by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital last summer.

Julian Nagelsmann is prominent in Chelsea’s thoughts after the ruthless dismissal of Potter, who was informed of his fate at 2.45pm on Sunday, but the former Bayern Munich manager is believed to be reluctant to take the job until the summer. A full-time appointment is not imminent. Chelsea have installed Bruno Saltor, who was part of Potter’s backroom staff, as interim head coach and want to think carefully before making their next move.

Chelsea have drawn up a shortlist of candidates, including Mauricio Pochettino, and would like someone in place before pre-season. Nagelsmann is the early favourite but Luis Enrique could come under consideration. Chelsea have been linked with the Eintracht Frankfurt manager, Oliver Glasner, while Rúben Amorim is building a strong reputation at Sporting Lisbon.

However, eyebrows will be raised at the new regime’s behaviour. Much has been made of Boehly and Clearlake, which is owned by Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano, trying to move away from Roman Abramovich’s sacking culture.

Yet Chelsea, who are 11th in the Premier League despite spending close to £600m on signings since last summer, have fired two managers in seven months. Potter was hired after the departure of Thomas Tuchel in September. Chelsea paid £21.5m in compensation to Brighton & Hove Albion to bring the 47-year-old and his coaching staff to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have not paid the £50m that was left on Potter’s five-year contract but he is understood to be due significant compensation. The former Brighton manager’s No 2, Billy Reid, has also been sacked. Chelsea said that Potter had “agreed to collaborate with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition”. That is understood to refer to the manager’s trusted assistants, Bruno, Bjorn Hamberg and Ben Roberts, not leaving the club. Anthony Barry is waiting to find out if he will be allowed a reunion with Tuchel at Bayern.

It had seemed that Potter had bought himself time after Chelsea reached the last eight of the Champions League by beating Borussia Dortmund last month. They play the first leg of their quarter-final away to Real Madrid next week.

(The Guardian) Big news for Chelsea is that Kanté makes his first Premier League start since August. It wasn’t that long ago that he was the finest midfielder in this league. A huge plus for the Blues. And look at the depth on that bench. The question is: has Bruno Saltor picked the right XI?

Liverpool make six changes. Six! The previously undroppable Robertson, Alexander-Arnold and Salah are on the bench, while Van Dijk doesn’t make the squad – the Dutchman is ill. It’s just the third time the back four of Gomez, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas has played together.

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Sky’s Geoff Shreeves is at his effervescent best, asking Jordan Henderson to “what extent this game is going to be a game of mentality”.

Daniel Sturridge, who scored a wondergoal for Liverpool at the Bridge in 2018, refers to it as ‘Hentality’.

Henderson gives both short shrift, and jogs back to the dressing room.

(The Guardian) Peeeeeep! And we’re off. Liverpool get us away.

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2 min: Kanté wins the ball back, sprints past his marker and draws a free-kick. And the world continues to turn.

(The Guardian) 4 min: Huge chance for Félix, and nearly all of his own making. A miserable pass from Tsimikas let’s Chelsea counter at pace and suddenly the Portuguese has Matip one-on-one. Félix turns him inside out on the edge of Liverpool’s box, and just as he is pulling the trigger, Matip gets back to get a toe in. A crucial touch.

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5 min: Konaté clears off the line! Chelsea again outnumbered Liverpool in the final third. Havertz plays a poor square pass but the ball rebounds to Kovacic, who rounds Alisson but sees his low shot cleared by a sliding Konaté. A fast start from Chelsea!

7 min: Liverpool look very ropey.

(The Guardian) 9 min: What I would say, in Liverpool’s favour, is that they are pressing very high. Three forwards against Chelsea’s back three, which means two things: Liverpool can be dangerous on the counter attack, with Chilwell and James up the field, and Liverpool’s midfield are outnumbered in transition. It’s a very, very open game!

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11 min: In the spirit of this frenetic start, here’s an email from Richard Hirst. -- “Since both teams seem to have been chosen by picking out random player numbers I predict a chaotic match. Which should suit Nunez; a hat trick followed by a red card. I shall certainly be surprised if 22 players are on the pitch at the end.”