Opponent Watch: Liverpool to solve major left-back headache before Chelsea meeting
As Ben Chilwell fully returned to the fold for Chelsea, Premier League rivals Liverpool have also solved a major headache as Andy Robertson now stands fit for selection as per the Reds’ Assistant Manager Pep Lijnders.
The 29-year-old Scotland international has not featured in top-flight action since October. His last appearance came for The Tartan Army against Spain and came off close to the halfway mark after injuring his shoulder.
The Reds have used Kostas Tsimikas and Joe Gomez in Robertson’s absence. More so the latter, after Tsimikas also saw himself injured in Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Arsenal at Anfield in December. Gomez since then, has put in wonderful performances as a left-back, and Robertson’s return to action does not justify Gomez getting dropped, totally from a sporting perspective. There still remains one more week to go for the fixture, as Jurgen Klopp’s men host Mauricio Pochettino and Co. on the 31st of January.
That is as per BBC. However, Gomez’s versatility can see him slot in at right-back as well, apart from his natural central defensive position. However, injuries to Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip, and Kostas Tsimikas could hurt Liverpool’s play. For Chelsea, the Blues will remain without captain Reece James, who looks set to remain sidelined until the end of March.
Other absentees for Chelsea include long-term ones like Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella among others who could form an extremely strong seven-a-side team in the physio’s room.
Chelsea faced Liverpool at home in the opening fixture of the season with Axel Disasi scoring his first goal for the club in the fixture. Luis Diaz scored to make things level. Since then, both teams have had contrasting fortunes, but a strong run-of-form for the Blues has somewhat salvaged the season.
Both teams are in contention to face each other soon as the Blues have booked their tickets to the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley after their win against Middlesbrough. Liverpool face Fulham in the other semi-final and the Reds go into the second-leg of that fixture on the back of a 2-1 win in the first leg at Anfield.
Cole Palmer playing out of the right wing will have to make further notes as the Liverpool game inches closer. Joe Gomez would have been a resolute defender, but as we all know, Robertson is one of the best full-backs in the league, and Palmer might have a tougher time going up against the Scotsman. Nevertheless, there’s still a decent amount of time for that game, and Chelsea face Aston Villa in the FA Cup before their trip to Anfield.
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