Chelsea predicted XI at Liverpool: 3-4-3 in Gegenpressing duel

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea comes up against a team that is as famous for pressing other teams as his own teams are, just more established. Jurgen Klopp and Tuchel have managed the same clubs prior to their Premier League managerial careers and are incredibly familiar with one another. This says a lot of about how similar both managers are in terms of tactics and philosophies. Of course, the degree of success both managers will achieve is dependent on a lot more than tactics and philosophies. This is a battle neither German wants to lose, it is a bigger test for the younger German than it is for the Liverpool boss. This match is also a top four six-pointer, if you will.

Tuchel goes into this fixture unbeaten as a Chelsea manager, so who does he trust to keep that status intact?

Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal

Edouard Mendy was sharp against Manchester United; save for the moment he swept forward to gather a cutback and spilled it, but he was the first to it, so nothing came of it. There were questions when he was left out of the starting line-up against Newcastle and there was panic, but Tuchel reiterated that Mendy was the starter and he has shown as much. Mendy has not played against Liverpool yet, so a game against Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino will be an essential test for the Senegalese.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right centerback, Spain

Cesar Azpilicueta was mostly solid against Manchester United. His role in that defense is one that Tuchel cannot do without because he’s needed to be defensively solid, which he is, and also to overload the right side. He even sometimes acts as an overlapping right back. Tuchel has given the captain a chance to feature in the starting line-up since he came, and the Spaniard has represented himself well, credit to the former Osasuna man.

Andreas Christensen (No. 4) Centerback, Denmark

Andreas Christensen was Chelsea’s best player against Man United. He literally didn’t put a foot wrong, not losing possession of the ball at all, and recording an incredible 100 percent passing accuracy on his 77 attempted passes. He led the team in blocked shots with three, as well. He frustrated several Man United counter attacks. Suffice it to say, the Dane was exceptional on the day, and while one many argue Man United attackers were off their game, the case can be made that Christensen was the reason it was that way.

Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Left centerback, Germany

Antonio Rudiger’s distribution was good the last time out. He played his role in a clean sheet against an attack that is famous for getting success against possession-based teams. He won five out of six duels and recorded six defensive actions. The German, like Christensen, is more comfortable in a back three. Rudiger has done himself justice under Tuchel after being benched by Frank Lampard, and no one can argue with his selection any longer. Amongst many things, Tuchel will want a defense he can trust, and so far it seems Rudiger is a part of that back line.