Liverpool welcome Chelsea on Thursday night looking to end a six-game winless streak at home. They've only scored two goals in that time and have remarkably lost their last four at Anfield. In fact, Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan has scored as many league goals at Anfield as Liverpool have in 2021.
Jurgen Klopp's side have finally wilted under the immense pressure of their extraordinary injury list and now race a challenge to make the top-four let alone try and defend their league title. Only two points off the Champions League places, Liverpool know they are one six teams challenging for fourth at present.
Only one point off relegation in the Premier League table for 2021, Liverpool's downturn in form has impacted their ratings significantly. It's no surprise, as it coincides with Chelsea's resurgence under new manager Thomas Tuchel, that the combined XI between the two sides makes for interesting viewing.
Alisson has endured a tough season on and off the pitch but Liverpool will be thankful to have him back to face Chelsea following the sad passing of his father. Liverpool have already conceded more goals this season (34) than they did across the whole of their title-winning campaign last term (33), not helped by the constant changing in front of him. A WhoScored rating of just 6.44 from 6.62 last season is a hefty decline for Alisson.
While the jury is still out on whether Edouard Mendy is the real deal for Chelsea, he has at least offered greater assurances in goal than Kepa. Mendy has kept the third most clean sheets (11) in the Premier League this season and Chelsea have tightened up even more of late since Tuchel's appointment. While no a great rating by any stretch, 6.59 is still enough to pip Alisson in goal.
With practically no centre-backs left fit, it's no surprise Chelsea fill those positions. However, Reece James and Ben Chilwell also take right and left-back from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, respectively. If you're thinking more recently then you'd probably say the Liverpool duo have been in better form, particularly as James and Chilwell seem to be fighting for their places under Tuchel, but over the course of the season then there is no question Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have struggled to rediscover last season's form.
Moving into midfield and Thiago and N'Golo Kante form a double-pivot. Neither have hit their best form yet this season, illustrated by the fact neither have a WhoScored rating above 7.00 but still get in, but both sides have really struggled in that area of the park throughout the campaign. Mateo Kovacic would make the XI if the side was based on ratings under Tuchel but he really struggled under Frank Lampard earlier on and misses out as a result.
Mason Mount has been Chelsea's standout performer all season and completes the midfield before Liverpool's front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane conclude the side. Liverpool's forwards haven't clicked as they did last season but they almost make the side by default with Chelsea's strikers faring even worse.
Frank Lampard couldn't work out how to get the best from Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech and Tuchel is now struggling with the same problem. While Chelsea have clearly improved in some areas under their new manager, they have only scored more than once in two of Tuchel's first nine games in charge.
