Chelsea head to Anfield this Saturday with history looming large—and not the good kind. The Blues are desperate to avoid a seventh straight league defeat, a feat that would set an unwanted club record. Currently sitting in ninth place and mathematically out of the top-five race, interim manager Calum McFarlane is using this clash to rebuild confidence ahead of next weekend's FA Cup final. It's been a rough stretch: Chelsea haven't won since early March, but they're still just four points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth.
Anfield hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Chelsea, who have won only one of their last ten league visits. However, the Blues are eyeing a rare league double over Liverpool—something they haven't achieved since 2014. They edged the reverse fixture 2–1 at Stamford Bridge back in October, and McFarlane is urging his young squad to show more resilience to stop the slide. "We need to find form before Wembley," he said, as the team looks to channel that October magic.
In better news, defenders Reece James and Levi Colwill have both returned to full training and are in contention to start. That's a huge boost for a backline that has conceded in 13 consecutive league games. Up front, João Pedro remains the club's most clinical weapon with 15 league goals this season. The Brazilian has been involved in seven of Chelsea's last nine Premier League strikes, making him the man to watch on Saturday.
Filip Jorgensen will start in goal after Robert Sanchez was ruled out with a head injury. Jesse Derry is also sidelined for the rest of the season after a heavy blow to the head, while Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are both carrying knocks and unlikely to feature. João Pedro, meanwhile, is chasing his 20th goal of the season across all competitions—a milestone that would cap off a standout campaign.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; James, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo, Lavia; Fernandez; Pedro, Delap.
The match kicks off at 12:30 BST on Saturday, 9 May 2026. UK fans can catch the action live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming also available via the HBO Max app or website. Whether you're gearing up for the game or just stocking up on matchday gear, this is one you won't want to miss.