Chelsea: Four things to look for as Blues survive Liverpool trophy lift

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Chelsea’s US midfielder Christian Pulisic (L) vies with Norwich City’s German-born Swiss defender Timm Klose during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in London on July 14, 2020. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea is one win away from qualifying for the Champions League next season. Liverpool will be thinking about their coronation as the Blues look to spoil.

Chelsea, currently, needs only three points to guarantee Champions League football next season. Their first opportunity to do so will be against Liverpool as the Jurgen Klopp side will be distracted by their trophy lift on the same day. What are things to look for as the Blues seek to spoil the party?

1. Champions League Qualification Versus Liverpool Record Books

The fact that Wednesday night will see Chelsea take on Liverpool should excite every person connected to the respective clubs. This is a historic rivalry, one that does not need any added context or narrative; it’s one of the games of the season.

But having said that, there certainly are some themes at the heart of this game that drive up its stakes and make it a highly anticipated affair.

From the Reds’ perspective, this is all about the records. The last time Liverpool lost at home in the Premier League was in April of 2017, with the club on the cusp of going unbeaten at Anfield for a third successive full season. To go with the unbeaten record, Klopp’s men are also one home win away from equaling the record for most home wins in a season. Add the official champions coronation to take place soon after and the Reds, who have been a little disinterested since securing the title, will have a lot to play for on Wednesday.

On the Blue side of things, this game is a must win. After Leicester’s loss to Spurs, Chelsea has the opportunity to wrap up the hunt for Champions League qualification with a game in hand, and Frank Lampard’s men need to grab it. They absolutely cannot leave this task for the last game of the season where the pressure is increased by tenfold and any small error could set the club back in the long term. No thank you.

For the mental sanctity of their manager, fans, and anyone remotely connected to Chelsea, the players must simply turn up as they have for most of the big games this season. They have had their lapses of concentration and periods of disinterest against smaller oppositions, but these players certainly relish the big games and must inexcusably get the job done against Liverpool.

They also have the opportunity to hand the Reds a loss and ruin their official coronation. Chelsea loves to play the spoilsport in these situations, so motivation should be at an all time high for these Blue players.

European qualification. Domestic records. Don’t be fooled, Wednesday night will have all to play for.

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