This clash between in-form rivals Chelsea and Liverpool – the only two English clubs still competing in each major domestic competition this season – is not just a prelude to next month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

The Anfield showdown, which kicks off at 8.15pm, is also a mouth-watering return to Premier League action after a two-and-a-half week break, before which Chelsea overcame Fulham and Liverpool defeated Bournemouth to remain top of the table.

Both sides were in FA Cup action over the weekend. The Blues played on Friday evening and were held to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge by Aston Villa. Jurgen Klopp's side, meanwhile, overcome Norwich City on Sunday.

The disparity in downtime may prove a challenge for Klopp to navigate in what will be the first league game Liverpool play since it was announced the German coach will depart at the end of the season.

Chelsea, of course, have been party-poopers on that side of Stanley Park in the past. And across the last 15 years in all competitions, the Blues have beaten the Reds more times at Anfield (6) than at Stamford Bridge (5).

The last seven meetings between the two clubs have all ended level after 90 minutes. You have to go back to March 2021 to find the last victory in this fixture – and that saw the Blues claim victory at Anfield.

This batch of midweek fixtures is the reverse of matchday one, and all but three will be carried live by the same broadcaster in the UK, TNT Sports.

When Chelsea and Liverpool met back in August, the game ended all square. Former Blue Mo Salah teed up Luis Diaz to open the scoring that day, but a Ben Chilwell corner resulted in Axel Disasi netting a debut goal to level the contest.

Twelve points up on last season’s corresponding fixtures and with momentum built after three successive Premier League victories, Mauricio Pochettino’s men will look to stake a claim for a top-six spot against a Liverpool side that are unbeaten in 22 matches at Anfield.

Chelsea team news

The good news for Chelsea ahead of the trip to Anfield is that Pochettino confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku are both in contention to return to the matchday squad.

Nicolas Jackson could also be involved but will have to make it back from the African Cup of Nations following Senegal's elimination on Monday evening.

The bad news is Levi Colwill will be absent due to a tendon injury, Trevoh Chalobah isn't quite ready to make his comeback, and six other players are ruled out due to injury.

Going into the midweek Premier League fixtures, no top-flight player has scored more winning goals this season than Cole Palmer. Four of the England international's nine top-flight goals have edged a result.

Palmer has also gone level with Christian Pulisic for the most goals scored (9) in a single Premier League season by a Chelsea player aged 21 or under.

Pulisic achieved the feat during the 2019/20 campaign; Palmer has the remainder of the top-flight campaign to claim the record outright.

The Wythenshawe-born star also leads Chelsea in expected assists in the Premier League this term (5.4), a figure above his actual assists of four.

One area of improvement for Pochettino's side is in the second half of matches. If top-flight fixtures finished after 45 minutes, the Blues would be fifth in the table, one place above Liverpool.

Intriguingly, however, the Reds have conceded 62 per cent of goals at Anfield before half-time this season.

Goal contributions 2023/24 (all competitions)

Opposition scout – Liverpool

Klopp will keep the Liverpool wagon rolling until May despite, by his own admission, running on 'three wheels' mentally.

His team have had two days fewer to rest and prepare for tonight's fixture, but the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, and Dominik Szoboszlai were only used off the bench against Norwich City. Alexis Mac Allister may also return from a knock.

Several regular starters remain unavailable, though, including the prolific Salah, centre-back Joel Matip, and midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Wataru Endo.  

In the absence of Salah, one of Luiz Diaz or Harvey Elliott are likely to be deployed off the right flank. They both offer different threats compared to the Egyptian international, who is sidelined due to an injury sustained at AFCON.

Van Dijk will come back into the Liverpool backline, almost certainly for youngster Jarell Quansah. The Dutchman remains a threat at set-pieces and scored after being introduced against Norwich on Sunday.

Liverpool have scored almost 40 per cent of their Premier League goals at Anfield in the last quarter-hour of games.

Their fluid front three has found form despite Salah’s absence. Diogo Jota has contributed towards eight goals since returning from injury on Boxing Day, while Darwin Nunez has netted more times in his past two league outings (3) than in the previous 14.

Liverpool vs Chelsea: The history

Tonight's game is Chelsea’s 93rd at Anfield. That makes it – alongside Everton’s Goodison Park – the most visited away ground in our history.

This fixture was first played at Liverpool’s stadium on Christmas Day 1907 in Football League Division One. It ended in a 4–1 win for Chelsea, with two of the goals fired by ‘Gatling Gun’ George Hilsdon.

The Blues are currently unbeaten in six Premier League matches against the Reds home and away. As mentioned above, the last victory for either side was in March 2021, Mason Mount scored the winner at Anfield on that occasion.

Perhaps our most renowned victory at Anfield, however, came in April 2014. A patched-up Chelsea side – which included Salah – claimed a famous 2-0 victory under Jose Mourinho and effectively halted Liverpool's title charge.

Demba Ba famously opened the scoring that day following a mis-control in midfield by Steven Gerrard. Willian added a second late on following a breakaway. And Mourinho quipped that the Blues refused to be 'clowns at the circus' at Anfield.

Pen pals

Raheem Sterling increased his lead as the player suffering the most fouls leading to a penalty in Premier League history when Fulham’s Diop tripped him earlier this month.

That was the 26th such incident in his career and the third with Chelsea this season after he drew penalties against West Ham and Burnley.

Chelsea's next successful Premier League penalty will be our 150th in the competition. The previous 149 came from 171 attempts, an 87 per cent success rate.

We meet again

Following Klopp’s appointment at Anfield nine years ago, Chelsea have won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League, Super Cup, Club World Cup.

Liverpool have won the same number of trophies in that period, but with the League Cup claimed instead of the Europa League.

The two sides will go in search of further silverware next month in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley – and Liverpool’s presence could indirectly help Chelsea in the Premier League.

Revenge will, of course, be on the menu following narrow Wembley defeats to the Reds in the 2022 League Cup and 2022 FA Cup. But our chance of securing European football next season could be boosted if that dish is not served up.

That is because Klopp’s men look set to finish in the Premier League top six, meaning if they are victorious in the final – which hopefully won't be the case – the Europa Conference League play-off spot will be passed down the top-flight table.

Chelsea’s Anfield landmark

The final top-tier hospitality seats in Liverpool’s new Anfield Road stand will not be ready for Chelsea’s visit.

In December 2023, a stalemate between the Reds and Man United was watched by 57,158 – their biggest crowd for 60 years – and the fully-opened stadium’s eventual capacity will increase to 61,000.

What is rarely mentioned is that Liverpool’s record crowd for a league game remains at 58,757 for the 2-2 visit of Chelsea on 27 December 1949. It was an era of big gatherings: the Blues’ biggest home crowd that season was 70,362.