Liverpool v Chelsea: Two strong sides prepared to battle at Anfield - Eden Hazard must play.

Tonight Chelsea travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup having witnessed Manchester United rotate their squad and pay the consequences. Indications are that both managers will set their stall out to field strong sides. 

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I had predicted as many as nine/ten changes for the game in my preview yesterday but having watched both press conferences ahead of the game from Jurgen Klopp and Gianfranco Zola, I can see both sides making only three four each.

Speaking ahead of the game, Gianfranco Zola said:

"It is an important game. We are Chelsea Football Club and we want to try to win all our games. We are going to take it seriously.

It is not the Premier League, we know, but because of who we are, what we are, we want to play the best we can. It’s an opportunity to see players who didn’t have many games so far, but it will still be a good team."

Jurgen Klopp said:

"Each game is an opportunity and it’s all about is it the situation for it, is the player ready – there are different things you have to consider when think about the line-up, especially for a cup game like this.

It will be a very good side that we will line up tomorrow.”

Without being disrespectful to the Carabao Cup, it's the least of our priorities for both clubs this season and you would normally see plenty of rotation. However, this is Liverpool v Chelsea and the rivalry we have built since Jose Mourinho first took over the club in 2004, it's a game that is there to be won with both sides going for it.

I have stated numerous times on here that Chelsea have real defensive concerns at the moment with the position of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante in midfield (they should swap because the Italian cannot tackle) and the position of Marcos Alonso without the ball at times, leaving us exposed down our left-hand side. If Liverpool go full strength up front, they could batter us tonight and that's just me being honest.

If Chelsea are to come away with a result then Eden Hazard has to play. Without him, I struggle to see where we can create opportunities at the moment as we did against West Ham.

It's there for the taking, two strong sides sitting at the top of the Premier League, one almost the finished article and the other in transition. Who will come out on top? Let's hope it's Chelsea!

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