Chelsea vs Liverpool: A top four clash on the cards to kick off 2022

Topics: TV Schedules, Chelsea, Liverpool, English Premier League

A tantalizing clash awaits as top four sides Chelsea and Liverpool prepare to do battle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, January 2nd.

Preview: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Just one point - and one place - separate Chelsea and Liverpool ahead of their intriguing showdown on Sunday, January 2nd. The Blues, who will serve as hosts, come into this tie sitting in second place on 42 points, while Liverpool are in third on 41 points; however, the Reds have played fewer games than their upcoming opponents. With Manchester City, who presently enjoy a very comfortable lead at the top of the table being the heavy favorites in their upcoming clash with Arsenal, both Chelsea and Liverpool will know that failing to win here could see the Cityzens effectively run away with the title.

It's been a stunning turn of events, as far as Chelsea are concerned. The Blues started the Premier League season off brightly, and were at one point, on top of the table. However, things have started to go awry, and they're now eight points behind Manchester City, who have been resurgent over the past few months. They'll come into this game having dropped two points in a very disappointing one-all draw with Brighton in their last game of 2021, which really emphasizes the decline Chelsea have faced as of late.

Once boasting the most formidable defense in the league, the Blues have found clean sheets a lot harder to come by. In addition, they've drawn four of their last five home games, which means that they've dropped a very valuable eight points during that time - the same number of points that Manchester City now have over them as Pep Guardiola's men have started to steal a march on the chasing pack.

Like Chelsea, Liverpool experienced disappointment in their final match of 2021. The Reds were viewed as the heavy favorites to win against an injury-ravaged Leicester, but ended up succumbing to a 1-0 defeat. It was the perfect revenge for the Foxes after they were dumped out of the EFL Cup by Liverpool just six days prior. They'll certainly hope to leapfrog Chelsea into second spot here, and historically, the Reds have done well against the Blues, with just two losses from their last 11 clashes against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Team news: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Chelsea: Reece James is set to miss this match after sustaining a hamstring injury, while Ben Chilwell is out for the rest of the season after a knee injury and subsequent surgery.

Liverpool: The visitors will have to make do without Andy Robertson, who is serving a multi-match ban, as well as Thiago Alcantara and Takumi Minamino. Brazilian duo Alisson Becker and Roberto Firmino also missed training on Thursday, so it remains to be seen if they'll feature on Sunday. In addition, three players have tested positive for COVID - but Liverpool have chosen to keep their names anonymous for now.

Match facts: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Liverpool have won their last two away meetings against Chelsea, and are hoping to become the first side to win three in a row since Blackburn Rovers did so from 1993 to 1996
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last two meetings with Liverpool (W1 D1) after losing four in a row from 2019 to 2020
However, both results came at Anfield, not Stamford Bridge
Liverpool are without a win in their last 3 Premier League games in London this season (D2 L1)
The Reds have also failed to beat the reigning Champions League holder across all comps (D3 L3) since beating Manchester United 4-1 in March 2009