Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Stream, score, TV channel, team news as Alisson OUT with Covid, Lukaku NOT in squad – updates

The key men close up

Mason Mount and Mohamed Salah have made a habit of helping their respective teams to three points this season, and the pair are likely to be key again this afternoon.

Mount has been involved in 12 Premier League goals this season, the most of any English player in the division, and his joint-best return in a single Premier League campaign.

Mo Salah, meanwhile, is the Premier League’s top scorer and comes into this contest with a fine personal record in the capital. The Egyptian has been directly involved in 13 goals in his last 13 Premier League games in London (eight goals and five assists).

On the Liverpool substitutes’ bench

13 Adrian, 97 Marcelo, 8 Keita, 12 Gomez, 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 17 Jones, 63 Beck, 76 Williams, 80 Morton

On the Chelsea substitutes’ bench

1 Kepa, 5 Jorginho, 17 Saul, 18 Barkley, 20 Hudson-Odoi, 22 Ziyech, 31 Sarr, 68 Wale, 75 Hall

Here’s how Liverpool line up

It’s three changes for Liverpool, led today by Pep Lijnders in Jurgen Klopp’s absence. Two are enforced by positive Covid-19 tests with Alisson and Joel Matip now self-isolating; young Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher takes the gloves while Ibrahima Konata comes into the defence. Elsewhere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drops to the bench so 35-year-old James Milner starts in midfield. It’s a 4-3-3 formation for the Reds with Jordan Henderson captaining the team.

62 Kelleher; 66 Alexander-Arnold, 4 Van Dijk, 5 Konate, 21 Tsimikas; 14 Henderson, 3 Fabinho, 7 Milner; 11 Salah, 20 Diogo Jota, 10 Mane

Chelsea starting team – Lukaku dropped

Thomas Tuchel makes five changes to the Chelsea team that began Wednesday’s draw with Brighton, but only one will make the headlines. Romelu Lukaku has been dropped for comments about his unhappiness at the club, and has been replaced by Kai Havertz. Also out are Andreas Christensen, Jorginho, Callum Hudson-Odoi as well as the injured Reece James. The 37-year-old Brazilian Thiago Silva returns to marshal the back three while Trevoh Chalobah, N’golo Kante and Marcos Alonso also return. It’s the usual 3-4-2-1 shape for the Blues, but there’s a shift in positions for Cesar Azplicueta, who moves to right wing-back, and Christian Pulisic, who is likely to operate as the Blues’ furthest forward player.

16 Mendy; 14 Chalobah, 6 Thiago Silva, 2 Rudiger; 28 Azpilicueta, 7 Kante, 8 Kovacic, 3 Alonso; 19 Mount, 29 Havertz; 10 Pulisic

Travelling Pool hoping for hat-trick

After losing four consecutive Premier League games against Liverpool between 2019 and 2020, Chelsea are now unbeaten in their last two against the Reds, having won one and drawn one.

However, both of these games have come at Anfield. When it comes to contests in London, it’s the Merseysiders that hold the recent upper hand.

Liverpool have won on their last two league visits to Chelsea, and could today equal the feat set by only one visiting team in the Premier League era by winning three consecutive matches at Stamford Bridge. Blackburn Rovers previously managed it between 1993-94 and 1995-96.

Reds rule out key trio

Liverpool have just announced the first team players that will be unavailable for this afternoon’s fixture at Stamford Bridge due to testing positive for Covid-19.

Goalkeeper Alisson, centre-back Joel Matip and forward Roberto Firmino have all been ruled out, and join manager Jurgen Klopp in having to spend a period in self-isolation.

City starting to pull away

Manchester City’s dramatic stoppage time win at Arsenal yesterday – their 11th in a row – extended the champions lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points.

Chelsea have a game in hand on the leaders, and Liverpool two, but the stuttering challengers really need to start putting a run of victories together if they are to keep what had been an exciting title race going beyond this month.

Bookies unable to separate sides

There’s barely been an opportunity to slide a cigarette paper between Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League standings this season, and it’s proved equally difficult to differentiate the pair for those pricing up today’s contest.

• Chelsea win 17/10
• Draw 12/5
• Liverpool win 17/10

Odds from Betfair correct at the time of posting.

Top of the table clash

Good afternoon, and welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of Chelsea against Liverpool in the Premier League.

After Manchester City’s last gasp victory yesterday, it’s over to those in second and third to show they have what it takes to keep pace with the champions.

A three-horse title race just weeks ago, the gap is now 11 points between the leaders and these challengers, although the Reds have two games in hand on City while the Blues take on Pep Guardiola’s men next time out.

So, today’s clash of the titans takes on extra importance if either of these club want to have any real hope of lifting the Premier League trophy in May.

Thomas Tuchel has had further injuries to deal with over Christmas period, and it now seems as though Reece James is set for an extended period out aft

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been with a Covid outbreak, and will be missing key personnel this afternoon including manager Jurgen Klopp.

In Klopp’s absence, assistant Pep Lijnders will take charge on the touchline as the Reds looks to bounce back from defeat at Leicester five days ago.

It’s all set for a 4.30pm start in South-West London, and we’ll soon have confirmation of the two starting line-ups as we build up to kick-off.