Opponent Watch: Several key Chelsea players ruled out for Liverpool clash

Key Chelsea players set to miss opening Premier League game vs Liverpool

The Reds have a sense of good news as a number of key Chelsea players would not take part in the season opener against Liverpool this Sunday.

Thankfully, our pre-season campaign went past without any great injury issues, and we could go full-throttle against Chelsea on the weekend, of what is available.

While the only problem we face is our lineup and how the midfield shall start against Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino’s side has to deal with a number of injury issues, possibly meaning that they won’t be at their level best against Jurgen Klopp and Co.

Liverpool midfielder Thiago just recently returned to team-training. — Liverpool midfielder Thiago just recently returned to team training. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

For Liverpool, Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic only made their return to team training after long injury layoffs very recently, so it is tough to take a call on these two starting the game against Chelsea. Injury-wise, only Conor Bradley remains sidelined.

For the Londoners, the list of absentees is massive. Benoit Badiashile, Marcus Betinelli, Armando Broja, Trevo Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku are players that will miss out. The last two though, are absolutely massive players for Chelsea. However, the young squad at hand means that the Blues would rather find a way to start a decent lineup for the first game of the season.

Among the numerous players Chelsea has bought over the summer, one could expect striker Nicolas Jackson to start. For the Reds though, both our new midfield signings could start as they complement each other’s style pretty well, assuming Alexis Mac Allister plays #8 and Dominik Szoboszlai plays his natural #10 role.

The game against Chelsea would mark Virgil van Dijk's first appearance as full-time captain of Liverpool. — The game against Chelsea would mark Virgil van Dijk’s first appearance as full-time captain of Liverpool.

While we enter this game without a proper #6 in the team, we also hope that by Bournemouth the following weekend, we have a player who is a natural in that position. Fingers crossed.

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The last time we played at Stamford Bridge, the fans were “treated” to a goalless draw. Less of that this time, please. We want the ones wearing Red to come back a happy bunch at full-time.