Liverpool v/s Chelsea : Capital One Cup Preview

The Premier League leaders travel to Merseyside buoyed by Saturday’s 5-0 obliteration of Swansea and will be confident of securing a positive result to take back to London for the second leg next week.

Chelsea, who sit five points clear at the top of the table following Manchester City’s defeat to Arsenal, edged the last meeting between the teams as Gary Cahill and Diego Costa cancelled out Emre Can’s deflected opener in their last meeting in November.

But Liverpool are unbeaten in eight games since their defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in December and will be looking to make home advantage count as they attempt to land a first major honour under manager Brendan Rodgers.

CHELSEA TEAM NEWS

Jose Mourinho has an almost fully-fit squad to choose from for Tuesday’s League Cup clash with Liverpool. The Blues were convincing winners on Saturday and Mourinho could rotate his side for the trip to Anfield.

Thibaut Courtois could return in goal having sat out the last three games with a minor finger injury but Cesar Azpilicueta (groin injury) is likely to miss out, whilst the likes of Kurt Zouma, Loic Remy and Andre Schurrle will be hoping for
rare starts.

Formation-   4-2-3-1

Courtious- Ivanovic  Zouma Terry  Luis – Csesc   Matic –  Willian Oscar Hazard  – Costa

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to return to face Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg after resting his tight hamstring at the weekend. Striker Mario Balotelli also missed the win at Aston Villa with a chest infection and remains a doubt for the squad.

Forward Fabio Borini, despite scoring at Villa Park, could be the one to make way to accommodate Gerrard at Anfield.

Formation –  3-4-3

Mignolet-Can Skrtel  Sakho- Markovic Henderson Lucas Moren0  – Gerrard Coutinho – Sterling

Prediction : 2-2 :-Looking at Liverpool’s recent form it seems a draw is on the card in front of fierce Chelsea attack.

KICK OFF-1:15 am IST on tenaction ,21st Jan