Liverpool vs Chelsea
Premier League 2018-19
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Kick-off time: 4:30pm GMT
After securing a comfortable Champions League quarter-final lead over FC Porto, Liverpool will hope to successfully negotiate the most difficult remaining fixture of their domestic title run-in this afternoon as they host Chelsea at Anfield.
The Premier League leaders returned to the summit and took a two-point lead over quadruple-chasers Manchester City - who were busy reaching the FA Cup final - last Friday night as Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson all struck during a hard-fought 3-1 comeback win at Southampton.
Liverpool's next match takes place just minutes after Crystal Palace vs City finishes at Selhurst Park, so it could be that Jurgen Klopp's side, by virtue of their inferior goal difference, will once again need to win in order to regain their place at the summit.
Hoping to wreck their ambitions of a first top-flight title since 1990 is a Chelsea team that are caught up in a fierce battle for Champions League qualification and had a Thursday night Europa League trip to Slavia Prague to contend with.
The irrepressible Eden Hazard scored a goal of the season contender and inspired the Blues to a 2-0 London derby win over West Ham on Monday - a result that saw them leapfrog Tottenham and Arsenal into third place.
While they have played a game more than their rivals, successive wins and clean sheets were just what the doctor ordered for Maurizio Sarri after he once again came under significant pressure from supporters during an unconvincing performance at Cardiff.
Liverpool vs Chelsea team news and line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane
Subs: Wijnaldum, Lovren, Milner, Sturridge, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Origi
Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Emerson Palmieri, Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Hazard, Hudson-Odoi
Subs: Barkley, Higuain, Pedro, Caballero, Kovacic, Giroud, Christensen
Score prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
Chelsea are potentially going in search of a fifth successive win against a Liverpool side bidding for their seventh straight victory across all competitions.
The Reds have not been at their scintillating best of late but keep finding a way to grind out wins and have not lost a home league game since April 2017.
It may be another nervy affair, but Klopp's men should have the firepower to get the job done.
