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Chelsea vs Liverpool preview: Both sides want to bounce back from UCL defeats

  /  Ba1ma

One of the standout fixtures of any Premier League season takes place on Sunday when Chelsea welcome league leaders Liverpool to Stamford Bridge.

Both sides suffered defeats in the Champions League during the week and will be looking to return to winning ways domestically in what has all the makings of a goal-laden contest - as it was when the two sides went to penalties in the UEFA Super Cup last month.

Chelsea

Frank Lampard was part of the Chelsea team for many a memorable battle against Liverpool, although the balance of power has switched slightly since his playing heyday.

Whereas the Blues used to be the dominant force in English football while Liverpool were battling for a top-four spot, the roles have now been reversed with Chelsea coming into this match already seven points adrift of their opponents.

So far, it seems to have been a blessing in disguise. All 11 of their Premier League goals this season have been scored by English players aged 21 or younger - the first time that has ever happened - while Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham were all on the scoresheet last time out in the league.

It continued an entertaining start to the season for Chelsea, whose games have seen a league-high 22 goals so far, although the fact that those have been evenly shared between goals scored and conceded will be a concern.

Liverpool

There were concerns in the Liverpool camp that it may take a while for them to get going this season considering their disrupted pre-season and the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all being involved in international tournaments during the summer.

The reality could not be further from the truth, though. Jurgen Klopp's side have won five from five in the league so far this term, storming into a five-point lead and taking full advantage of Manchester City's unexpected dropped points.

Mane did the damage with a brace when the two sides met in Istanbul, although Chelsea will no doubt take confidence from the fact that they were also able to breach the Liverpool defence twice in that game.

If there has been one notable concern in the early weeks of the campaign then it is that the Reds have still only kept one clean sheet - after seven games last season they had four - although they do still boast the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League.

Head To Head

Sunday's match will be the second time these sides have met already this season, with Liverpool winning the UEFA Super Cup on penalties following a 2-2 draw in Istanbul last month.

Liverpool have only won one of the last seven meetings inside 90 minutes, though, picking up a 2-0 victory at Anfield in April - the last time the two sides faced off in the Premier League.

The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 1-1 draw, with Daniel Sturridge rescuing a point for the visitors with an 89th-minute stunner to cancel out Eden Hazard's opener.

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