Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League team news and line-ups as Mac Allister and Szoboszlai start

Chelsea and Liverpool had disppointing seasons last year which resulted in plentiful changes at both clubs. Former Chelsea bosses, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard, have been replaced with Mauricio Pochettino who hopes to ignite a new successful era at the club. Pochettino has plenty of options to choose from but his focus on passing, speed and improvement of young players offers Chelsea the opportunity to rebuild themselves as a big threat in the top flight. Nowhere is this more on display than 23-year-old Reece James being made captain of the club following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta. Liverpool, meanwhile, have overhauled their ageing midfield with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both shipped off to Saudi Arabia. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have been brought in to replace them but questions remain over the Reds’ defensive capabilities. Added to all this is the subplot of Moises Caicedo. Liverpool have had a bid of £110m accepted by Brighton for the midfielder but Caicedo prefers to join Chelsea with the Blues thinking about tabling an improved offer for the 21-year-old. The battle for Caicedo’s signature could play out on the pitch as the two clubs clash this afternoon. Follow all the action from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Liverpool: Chelsea vs Liverpool Chelsea host Liverpool in the Premier League with kick off at 4.30pm Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku will be out for ‘an extended period’ after undergoing knee surgery Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai make competitive Liverpool debuts at Stamford Bridge Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; James, Fernandez, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell; Sterling, Jackson Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Salah, Jota, Diaz Chelsea vs Liverpool 16:26 , Mike Jones Here come the teams! There are two new captains taking charge of their respective teams for this clash. Reece James leads out Chelsea while Virgil van Dijk is at the head of the Liverpool line. Kick off is up next… Why Axel Disasi could solve Mauricio Pochettino’s defensive problems at Chelsea 16:23 , Mike Jones When it was confirmed in mid-July that Wesley Fofana would face a significant period on the sidelines owing to an ACL injury, Chelsea started to be linked with a host of centre-backs to replace the Frenchman. Harry Maguire was a reported target, so too was Blues academy product Marc Guehi. However, Chelsea have now confirmed the signing from Monaco of towering France international Axel Disasi. The 25-year-old has been on Premier League radars in recent months, with Manchester United and Newcastle both credited with an interest in the Gonesse-born centre-back. Chelsea have since taken the plunge on the defender, bringing him in on a six-year deal for €45m. That in itself serves to highlight the extent of Fofana’s injury, but even so; Chelsea couldn’t afford to pass up the chance to secure Disasi’s services. Even with his compatriot available, Mauricio Pochettino ‘s top-quality options at the heart of the defence are thin on the ground. Why Axel Disasi could solve Mauricio Pochettino’s defensive problems at Chelsea Chelsea vs Liverpool 16:19 , Mike Jones Mohamed Salah has scored in Liverpool’s opening Premier League game in all six of his seasons with the Reds. His total of eight goals on the opening weekend is a joint record in the competition, matching the totals of Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney. Chelsea vs Liverpool 16:15 , Mike Jones New Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has won five of his seven Premier League matches on the opening weekend of the season, with his only defeat coming at Manchester United in 2015. The only permanent Chelsea manager to suffer a home defeat in his first Premier League fixture in charge of the club was Glenn Hoddle against Blackburn in 1993. Chelsea vs Liverpool 16:11 , Mike Jones The Reds have not lost their opening league game in any of the past 10 seasons (won eight, drawn two), with their last such defeat a 3-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion in 2012. Can Jurgen Klopp’s men keep that record in tact today? Chelsea vs Liverpool 16:07 , Mike Jones Chelsea only won one of their 19 league matches against teams who finished in the top half of the table last term – that came away to Aston Villa in their penultimate game under Steven Gerrard. The Blues made a combined 139 changes to their starting XI in the Premier League in 2022/23, the fourth highest tally by any side in the history of the competition. Chelsea vs Liverpool 16:03 , Mike Jones Liverpool are unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches with seven wins and four draws. This run started with a 0-0 draw at Chelsea, the only time they failed to score in those 11 matches. Will the Reds rectify that this afternoon? ‘Not my decision’ whether I get time to transform Chelsea – Mauricio Pochettino 15:59 , Mike Jones Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged it will not be for him to decide what constitutes success in his debut season as Chelsea manager ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool . The Argentinian will be the fifth coach to lead the team in a Premier League match since Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium bought the club last May and is tasked with picking up the pieces of a disastrous campaign that saw Chelsea finish 12th last season. As with Boehly’s first two transfer windows, there has been a significant turnover of players this summer, with 10 first-team players released or sold and a further six brought in. ‘Not my decision’ whether I get time to transform Chelsea – Mauricio Pochettino Chelsea vs Liverpool 15:55 , Mike Jones Chelsea have earned four Premier League wins and 20 points in 2023, fewer than any other side ever-present in the top flight in this time. Can Mauricio Pochettino turn around their fortunes? Chelsea vs Liverpool 15:51 , Mike Jones Jurgen Klopp’s team lost eight Premier League away matches last season, as many as in their previous three campaigns combined. Can they kick off this campaign with a win? Chelsea vs Liverpool 15:47 , Mike Jones Chelsea are winless in eight home matches in all competitions (four draws, four defeats) since beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the Champions League on 7 March. The Blues have won their opening Premier League game on 20 occasions, a joint record. Peter Drury brings colour to Premier League – but new Sky Sports commentator will divide opinion 15:43 , Mike Jones There is a special place in sporting history reserved for those who bring the most iconic moments to life. The voices in the living rooms or through the radio to the masses listening or watching have their place, but commentators, just like teams can divide opinion. Ahead of the start of the Premier League , Sky Sports will have a new head voice after Martin Tyler, who had covered the league since its inception in 1992, left the broadcaster , with Peter Drury his replacement. It will be a change both the style and approach, and while it remains to be seen how it will be received by those paying eye-watering sums to the broadcaster to watch Premier League matches, it is the start of a new era. Chelsea vs Liverpool 15:40 , Mike Jones The last time Chelsea hosted Liverpool in the opening round of a top-flight season was in 1937. The Blues won 6-1, with George Mills scoring a hat-trick. It would be surprising if today’s clash saw a similar scoreline but it’s never out of the question. Chelsea vs Liverpool 15:37 , Mike Jones Mauricio Pochettino names three Chelsea debutants for this match. Defender Alex Disasi, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and forward Nicolas Jackson all feature in a starting XI that sees Raheem Sterling and Reece James line up for the Blues. For Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp hands Premier League debuts to Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai while Mo Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz slot into the forward line. Chelsea vs Liverpool line-ups 15:32 , Mike Jones Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; James, Fernandez, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell; Sterling, Jackson Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Salah, Jota, Diaz Liverpool, Moises Caicedo, and the £100m bid that Jurgen Klopp said he’d never make 15:25 , Mike Jones Jurgen Klopp found himself disagreeing with Jurgen Klopp and Jurgen Klopp accepted Jurgen Klopp had been wrong. Or, to put it another way, the Liverpool manager has changed his mind. In 2016, he had said he would not spend £100million on a player – ‘The day this is football, I’m not in a job anymore’ – and in 2023 Brighton accepted Liverpool’s nine-figure bid for Moises Caicedo . If Klopp has changed, so have circumstances: Seven years ago, he was discussing Manchester United’s world-record purchase of Paul Pogba. Now Liverpool have made a British record offer for Caicedo. ‘Everything changed,’ Klopp said. ‘Do I like it? No. Did I realise I was wrong? Yes, definitely.’ ‘Everything changed’ might serve as a summary of Liverpool’s summer, except that the revolution remains in progress. Liverpool have a new captain, a new vice-captain and a new midfield , even if there is no guarantee Caicedo will be a part of it : It remains very possible the 21-year-old will join Chelsea and probable he would prefer to. It is also feasible that Liverpool’s summer-long pursuit of Romeo Lavia will instead bring the Belgian to Anfield, though they feel a £50m asking price is steep for a teenager whose lone season of first-team football culminated in relegation. Liverpool, Moises Caicedo, and the £100m bid that Jurgen Klopp said he’d never make Chelsea vs Liverpool 15:20 , Mike Jones Each of the last six league and cup meetings between Chelsea and Liverpool have been drawn, including the two domestic cup finals in 2022, both subsequently won by the Merseysiders on penalties. The four most recent encounters have finished 0-0 – no fixture in competitive English football history has finished goalless five times in a row. 15:15 , Mike Jones Chelsea were still negotiating with Brighton for Moises Caicedo into the early hours of Saturday morning, but the ongoing delay could yet work in Liverpool ‘s favour in a multi-layered saga that has also seen both clubs also compete for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia . Liverpool went higher than Chelsea in Thursday’s effective auction for Caicedo, bidding £110m, which then saw the Stamford Bridge club go to £55m for Lavia. Chelsea are trying to do both deals, but there is some skepticism whether they can make the two work under Financial Fair Play without significant sales. Jurgen Klopp wants players to step up as ‘reloaded’ Liverpool look to hit stride 15:10 , Mike Jones Jurgen Klopp accepts change at Liverpool was inevitable as he urged his ‘reloaded’ side to find their own way ahead of the start of their Premier League campaign. Liverpool saw captain Jordan Henderson and fellow midfielder Fabinho leave for the Saudi Pro League for a combined £52million, while Roberto Firmino and James Milner also departed Anfield this summer. Virgil van Dijk will skipper the side this season as Liverpool try to rebound from last season’s fifth-place finish, which left them outside the Champions League places for the first time since 2015-16. Jurgen Klopp wants players to step up as ‘reloaded’ Liverpool look to hit stride How to watch Chelsea vs Liverpool 15:05 , Mike Jones Chelsea vs Liverpool is due to kick-off at 4.30pm on Sunday 13 August at Stamford Bridge in London. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channels from 4pm. Subscribers can stream the game via the Sky Go app. Chelsea vs Liverpool early team news 15:00 , Mike Jones Chelsea have confirmed that Christopher Nkunku will be out for ‘an extended period’ after undergoing knee surgery. Mauricio Pochettino continues to chase midfield reinforcements, but centre-half Axel Disasi has been secured to provide the manager with another defensive option. Reece James has been appointed as captain. Jurgen Klopp’s side are also said to still be in the mix for another high-price midfield recruit despite adding Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who could make competitive Liverpool debuts at Stamford Bridge. Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic continue to work their way back from injury lay-offs and may be absent. Chelsea vs Liverpool 13:55 , Mike Jones Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the Premier League. Sunday’s action concludes with an interesting encounter between Chelsea and Liverpool that is set to be filled with intrigue, drama and subplots. Mauricio Pochettino takes charge of the Blues for his first league game since joining as head coach at the start of the summer. He’s got a fresh, youthful squad that will be keen to push the Blues to new heights and banish the memories of their horrendous campaign last season. Liverpool are similarly revitalised with a new captain in Virgil van Dijk and a couple of midfield maestros, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, joining the ranks. Jurgen Klopp has called this squad ‘Liverpool FC reloaded’ and he’ll want to kick off this new era with a winning start. The match gets underway at 4.30pm and we’ll have all the build-up, team news and updates beforehand so stick around.