The champions are coming but Stamford Bridge isn’t dressing for a celebration. With Liverpool arriving crowned and cruising, it’s Chelsea who are fighting for their lives. Sunday’s clash is no coronation. It’s a collision of urgency and dominance, where the Blues must draw blood to stay alive in the top-five race, and the Reds arrive determined to leave a mark beyond medals.
Chelsea – The gauntlet begins with the Champions at the door
Enzo Maresca’s men have clawed back relevance, but relevance won’t be enough. Having danced past Djurgardens in Europe and outlasted Everton and Fulham in the league, Chelsea enter a hellish final five games with their Champions League dream dangling by a thread.
With Brentford’s surprise win swinging the door open, the Blues must become invisible again, because Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, and Nottingham Forest are all queued up like storm clouds.
This is no longer about form, this is about survival in elite company. Maresca’s team haven’t fired blank at home since August, netting in 24 straight games at Stamford Bridge. Now, they must marry beauty with brutality to silence the champions.
Liverpool – Coronation complete, but records remain
The title is wrapped in red ribbon, the parade route mapped. Yet Arne Slot isn’t one to coast. His Liverpool, reborn and ruthless, dismantled Spurs 5-1 last weekend to climb alongside Manchester United with 20 English top-flight league title. But behind the glory is a team still hungry.
There’s pride in performance, and history still to be written. Slot could become the first manager to take Liverpool past the 90-point mark in his debut season. Salah is one strike away from matching Didier Drogba’s record of 29 Premier League goals in a season for a player over 30. And with Liverpool unbeaten in 20 league games in the month of May, this side isn’t done rewriting standards. Sunday isn’t just a guard of honour, it’s a challenge. Slot’s men are expected to rotate, but they won’t relent.
Team News
Chelsea have more cause for concern. Nkunku and Sanchez are racing against time, but only the latter looks likely to return. Fofana, Kellyman, Guiu, Anselmino remain unavailable, and Mudryk remain suspended. Nicolas Jackson, though, has hit form at just the right moment after three goals in two games, including a brace in Europe and a first Premier League goal in 2025.
Liverpool’s only confirmed absentee is Joe Gomez (hamstring), while Conor Bradley could return to the squad after resuming training. Expect tweaks from Slot, but the frontline of Salah, Gakpo, and Diaz may stay intact, particularly with the Egyptian chasing Drogba’s milestone.
Predicted Line-ups
Chelsea:
Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Liverpool:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Diaz
Match Info
- Competition: Premier League
- Venue: Stamford Bridge
- Kickoff: 4:30pm (Local Time)
- Referee: Simon Hooper
What’s at Stake:
Chelsea’s season balances on a razor’s edge. Having dropped points in key fixtures, their Champions League hopes now demand a perfect storm of results and performances. A win here keeps top five in their grip. A loss could turn the final stretch into a funeral march. The challenge? Beat the champions, then face Newcastle, United, and Forest. No slip-ups. No safety net.
Liverpool, by contrast, are in a position of power but not passivity. With the title locked up, they now play for legacy, milestones, and domination. For Slot, it’s about ending as emphatically as he began. For Salah, one more goal could etch his name deeper into Premier League lore. And for the squad, maintaining the May streak is more than superstition, it’s statement-making.
