Chelsea will need to keep Mohamed Salah quiet when they play Liverpool on Sunday(Image: Julian Finney)

Mo Salah mission, Cole Palmer scores - Three things Chelsea must do to send Liverpool message

Bobby Vincent takes a look at three things Chelsea will have to do to ensure they send a big message to the rest of the Premier League when they face Liverpool on Sunday

17 Oct 2024, 05:00 by Bobby Vincent · football.london

Chelsea have been immaculate on the road so far this season but Anfield on Sunday presents Enzo Maresca with his biggest challenge away from home to date.

The Blues are three out of three away from Stamford Bridge in the Premier League with victories against Wolves, Bournemouth and West Ham United. However, Sunday afternoon sees Chelsea take on Liverpool, who go into the weekend at the summit of the top-flight table and the west Londoners are looking to send a real message to the rest of the league - one that says: they are a force to be reckoned with this season.

In order to do that, though, quite a few things have to go the visitors' way on Merseyside. With that being said, Bobby Vincent takes a look at three things Chelsea will want to ensure happen when they go head-to-head with the league leaders on Sunday afternoon.

Keeping Salah quiet

While Mohamed Salah is not quite the rapid, fast-moving speed demon he once was, his influence on the Liverpool attack has not waned this season under Arne Slot. Salah, who represented Chelsea for two years, has scored six goals and provided five assists in 10 matches for the Reds in all competitions already this term.

Trying to keep the 32-year-old winger as quiet as humanly possible will be integral to Chelsea getting anything from Anfield, where they have not won since 2021. It will be a tough task for whoever is against Salah at left-back for the Blues - and that is looking increasingly likely to be Renato Veiga, who looks set to make just his second start in the Premier League for the west Londoners.

Marc Cucurella is not available for selection with the Spaniard serving a one-match suspension following his fifth yellow card of the season last time out against Nottingham Forest. Ben Chilwell has played just once this term, meaning Veiga is expected to come up against the dangerous Salah.

Many have tried and ultimately failed to minimise the threat of Salah but if Veiga can do that, it will go a long way in helping his team in a defensive manner at Anfield. He will undoubtedly need help from whoever is on the left wing, likely to be Jadon Sancho, who will need to track back and be diligent defensively to keep the Reds at bay.

Palmer to play key role

When Cole Palmer is on top of his game, there is not a defence in football that can deal with Chelsea's No.20. The 22-year-old is the man of the moment and Liverpool will be more than aware of the immense threat the England international can pose at Anfield.

For the Blues, it is their job to get Palmer on the ball as much as possible throughout the game. If they can do that and Palmer can start to work his magic, then there is absolutely no reason they cannot score a few goals on the day.

Palmer, though, will have to work out of possession perhaps a bit more than he is used to. Which brings us onto our next point...

Maresca plan remains

There are not many sides in the Premier League that have averaged more possession per game this season than Chelsea. Liverpool, however, are one of them.

According to stats provided by FBRef, the Reds average 60% of the ball compared to the Blues' 55.6%. Having the advantage of playing at home, also, means it is likely to be Liverpool with the majority of possession on Sunday.

For Chelsea and Maresca, though, they cannot move away from their idea and plan that has seen them make a really promising start to the season. Patience will be required as Slot has shown in the early stages of his career on Merseyside that he likes his team to dominate the ball - no matter who they are against.

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