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Chelsea vs Liverpool predicted XI : Does Lukaku start in a 3-4-2-1?

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on January 02, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on January 02, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (L) vies with Chelsea’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 28, 2021. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (L) vies with Chelsea’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 28, 2021. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Hakim Ziyech (No. 22) Right winger, Morocco

Chelsea also had an injury scare with Hakim Ziyech in the Lille game. Thankfully, his injury was also not serious and he’s likely to be fit for this game. Ziyech has created the most big chances for Chelsea in all competitions. He was substituted off in the Lille game, but not before he assisted the Blues’ first goal of the night with a beautifully taken corner. He has been Chelsea’s best player since the turn of the year and the Blues will be desperate for him to remain fit for the rest of the season. This is why Chelsea fans are overjoyed the Moroccan is fit to play. Chelsea’s season has already been affected by injuries, the last thing the team needs is more injury-induced impact.

Romelu Lukaku (No. 9) Striker, Belgium

The fact that many interpreted Romelu Lukaku being dropped for the Lille game to mean that “Tuchel’s done with him” just goes to the show how majority of the fanbase thinks. It seems many still don’t realize the depth of the financial implication of the commitment they made when they decided to sign Lukaku for the amount of money they did.

The “seven touches against Crystal Palace” thing has been over-flogged and now people should be able to move on. Lukaku has become an easy target for a lot of shallow pseudo criticism and analysis. Tuchel admitted pulling Lukaku out of the firing line because of the extent of the seven touches coverage. Lukaku is just one game away from being loved by all the fans again though, because for all the hate he’s getting now, if he scores a hat-trick in the EFL Cup final to win the match 3-2, they’d be singing Lukaku’s name.­­

Kai Havertz (No. 29) Left winger, Germany

Kai Havertz was poor the last time Chelsea faced these opponents. There’s been a lot of talk about the fluidity that was there in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, but the truth is that the Blues had the same amount of space to work with as in the reverse fixture, just that Havertz and Mason Mount almost intentionally made decisions so poor that the space was useless to Chelsea. Havertz did score against Lille, and while Lille was as open as they were, the goal was credit to the German to get himself in a position to head home Ziyech’s cross. Whoever starts against Liverpool has to bring his A-game, otherwise Tuchel’s men will have a very difficult game indeed.

Next. Chelsea vs Liverpool combined XI: Carabao Cup final starting team. dark

Who do you think makes the Blues’ starting XI? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

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