Liverpool vs Southampton confirmed line-ups: Team news ahead of Premier League fixture today
Liverpool host Southampton at Anfield this afternoon and the question now seems to be when and how they win the Premier League title, rather than if.
With 70 points gathered already, the Reds are on the verge of clinching their first Premier League title for 30 years and there is a real possibility of going the whole season unbeaten, as well as reaching the highest points tally in the league's history.
Southampton are having a fine season, currently sitting in ninth, and the Saints can treat this one as a free hit with the chance to cause a shock. Follow it live:
The big news this morning is that Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard, has dropped No. 1 goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to the bench. Willy Caballero starts in his place for the first time in a Premier League match since 12th May last year where he kept a clean sheet against... Leicester.
"It's a decision I have not taken lightly," said Lampard. "I trust in Willy Caballero, I trust in both keepers."
The match today is a battle between third and fourth. Leicester have had an exceptional season and gotten themselves into third place in the Premier League with an eight point gap over Chelsea.
Naturally the Blues can narrow it today if they win at the King Power Stadium. For Leicester a win brings them closer to securing a place in next season's Champions League as another three points would mean they would go 17 points clear of Manchester United in fifth with 14 games to play.
Brendan Rodgers makes just one change to the Leicester side that demolished West Ham 4-1 last time out.
Nampalys Mendy is still unavailable so Hamza Choudhury starts in mid-field. In a late call Wilfred Ndidi was removed from the starting line-up due to a sore knee.
Frank Lampard on the other hand makes four changes to his Chelsea side that drew 2-2 with Arsenal in their last match.
As reported Willy Caballero takes the goalkeeping spot from under pressure Kepa Arrizabalaga with Pedro and Mason Mount coming into the midfield in place of Willian and Mateo Kovacic.
In a pre-match interview Brendan Rodgers has been lamenting his team's loss to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and giving an update on Wilfrd Ndidi. He said:
"It’s part of the journey, you hope to get to finals and when you don’t it is a sore one. But you have to take it and use it to move forward.
"I’ve got a great group, who are very honest and within a couple of days they were back on it. With 14 games to go it’s about getting as many points as we can."
On Ndidi, he added: "He’s felt a pain in his knee, he recently had an operation but was alright against Villa.
"We had him in to play but it’s become very sore. Rather than him go out in the warm-up we thought we’d leave it. We don’t want any long term problems."
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has given updates on Tammy Abraham's knock and leaving out Kepa Arrizabalaga. He said:
"We know Leicester are a good side it hasn't gone amiss on us. They are a very good team, we played them earlier in the season and we saw that, so we'll need to be really competitive.
"It's a decision I make [leaving out Kepa]. With the keeper you don't take those ones lightly. They train together, they are are close and it's one I thought I'd make for this game. I trust in Willy [Caballero], he's very professional."
About Tammy Abraham he added: "Sometimes you have to play with a bit of pain. He's not got a muscle injury you hope he can deal with it. We wanted to get him on the pitch and he's trained the last two days."
Chelsea haven't beaten Leicester in the last four Premier League games between the two sides, losing one and drawing three.
This is Leicester's best run against Chelsea since a five-match unbeaten streak between April 1999 and February 2001.
However, Chelsea have good memories at the King Power Stadium, winning five of their last seven Premier League matches here and six in all competitons, more than any other visiting team.
Kick off: Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has not beaten Chelsea in 13 attempts, will today be the day?
Leicester start the match will and long ball down the right hand side but Rudiger comes across to cover it and let the ball run out for a Chelsea goal kick.
3 mins: Hudson-Odoi showcases his skill with a deft touch to knock the ball past Chilwell and start an attacking run. He gives the ball to Abraham who passes it back to him and his next touch is way too heavy so the attack breaks down.
6 mins: Oh my! Hudson-Odoi cuts into the middle of the pitch and sends the ball down Chelsea's left wing for Pedro. Pedro bombs forward with Azpilicueta on the overlap, the ball comes to Chelsea's captain who drills a low pass to the edge of the box where Hudson-Odoi has run to. He takes the shot on straight away but misses the ball completely.
9 mins: Choudhury gives away a free kick after bringing Abraham down from behind. Mount takes the free kick quickly and sends the ball to James. He puts the ball into the six-yard box but Jonny Evans gets to the ball first to put it out for a corner.
12 mins: Rudiger and Vardy both jump for an aerial ball and clash heads causing a little break in play. Both players are alright and will continue.
Chelsea work the ball forward quickly before Azpilicueta switches it out to Hudson-Odoi. Reece James creates on option on the overlap but Hudson-Odoi dribbles the ball into the middle of the box. Mount drifts into space and Hudson-Odoi finds him before Mount's shot goes over the crossbar!
15 mins: Chelsea have been in control in the opening stages of this match with Leicester finding it difficult to break through the lines when they are attacking.
Maddison fouls Reece James and the free kick is sent down Chelsea's right flank before Ben Chilwell intercepts and boots the ball away.
18 mins: Close! So close from Tammy Abraham. Reece James is free on the right wing and he crosses the ball into the six-yard box. Tammy Abraham gets free near the far post as the ball comes in and he needs just a touch to turn the ball into the net but he misses it. That's been the best chance of the game so far.
21 mins: Oh what's happened there? Tammy Abraham is played into the box with a ball that cuts the centre-backs. Soyuncu gets back first and comes together with Abraham before the Chelsea striker goes to ground.
VAR checks it but agrees with the referee that it wasn't a penalty.
24 mins: Leicester finally get into the game. They counter attack really well and send the ball up to Barnes who shoots and has his shot blocked. Tielemens collects the loose ball and passes to Perez on the right edge of the box, he takes a shot of his own and that one is blocked as well. Chelsea are scrambling and Reece James brings down Barnes on the left wing.
The free kick comes in but is headed out by Abraham. Perez picks it up but is brought down by Pedro. Another free kick for the home side. Maddison whips the ball into the six-yard box but no-one gets to the ball.
The goalkick is won by Leicester and it's played up to Vardy, he gets into the box with only Caballero to beat but the Chelsea goalkeeper makes the save!
