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Liverpool v Chelsea preview: Emre Can an injury doubt for hosts

Emre Can in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield
Image: Emre Can could miss out with injury

Emre Can is a doubt but Adam Lallana could feature as Liverpool host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Midfielder Can has a muscular injury that could see him miss out, but Lallana might make his first appearance of the season.

"Adam is on the way. We have to see how we handle that," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool have won four of their last five games in all competitions, with the only setback coming on Tuesday when they blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 at Sevilla in the Champions League.

"It will be a different game against Chelsea," said Klopp. "It will be at Anfield and if we can create a special atmosphere that will help for sure.

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Watch a preview of Saturday's Premier League fixtures including Chelsea's trip to Liverpool

"Our job is to stay really consistent. Now it's Chelsea, what a team, champions of last year, it will be a really tough job to do but we have nothing else to do."

Chelsea eased to a 4-0 Champions League win over Qarabag on Wednesday as they secured their sixth win in their last seven matches.

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Antonio Conte's side start the weekend nine points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Team news

Klopp said Lallana and Joel Matip are both giving "good signs" in their bids to return to full fitness, and could be involved against Chelsea, but Can is a doubt.

Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses is available following a six-week absence with a hamstring injury. He is expected to begin as a substitute against his former club, having spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Anfield.

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Highlights: West Brom 0-4 Chelsea

Alvaro Morata and Andreas Christensen are expected to return in place of Willian and David Luiz as boss Antonio Conte rotates his options, with striker Michy Batshuayi (ankle), forward Charly Musonda (knee) and the left-sided Kenedy (undisclosed) out.

Opta stats

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings with Chelsea (W2 D3), though both of those victories have come at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea haven't lost any of their last five Premier League visits to Anfield (W2 D3), since a 1-4 loss in May 2012.

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Antonio Rudiger celebrated Chelsea securing their place in the Champions League knock-out phases by dancing to hit song 'Mans Not Hot' by Big Shaq

This will be the 55th meeting between these sides in all competitions since the turn of the century - the most played fixture among sides within England's top four tiers.

Both teams have scored in 11 of the last 12 Premier League meetings between these sides, with the exception being Chelsea's 2-0 win at Anfield in April 2014.

Merson's prediction

I was sitting down with Ian Wright the other day, watching the Sevilla v Liverpool game before The Debate, and I said at half-time it would be 3-3. He said: 'No chance!'

I said: 'Wrighty, they play the same way at 3-0 up and 3-0 down!'

They're still all bombing forward at 3-0, they can't defend, and Sevilla had good chances in the first half.

If both teams play to the best of their ability, Chelsea will win. They have better players: better defenders, and there's not much in it attacking-wise. And Liverpool don't have a Cesc Fabregas to properly hurt you.

I have an inkling this will be a draw at Anfield, however, and that does neither side any favours.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (11/2 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Liverpool are Sky Bet's 11/10 favourites with Chelsea priced at 23/10 while the draw is priced at 13/5. Mohamed Salah and Alvaro Morata share favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 apiece, the same price as the free-scoring duo are both to get on the scoresheet.

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