The week-long day of the Premier League puts Chelsea’s leadership at stake. The blues’ lead was reduced to one point on Sunday after the 1-1 at home to Manchester United and today they visit Claudio Ranieri’s Watford.
The Manchester City of Pep Guardiola, second, will have an eye on Stamford Bridge since a stumble would give him the opportunity to give the ‘sorpasso’ whenever he wins in Birmingham to an Aston Villa that has won its two games since the arrival of Steven Gerrard.
Steven Gerrard, Liverpool ally against Guardiola?
The legendary former English player could lend a hand to ‘his’ Liverpool, 2 points behind the lead and visiting Rafa Benítez’s Everton in the derby. The Madrid coach is questioned after 7 days without winning.
Virgil van Dijk, the captain of Jürgen Klopp’s team, is returning to Goodison Park for the first time since he suffered a serious knee injury in October 2020 in a tough tackle by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford that caused him to miss the rest of the season.
Rafa Benítez asks the support of the fans in the derby
Klopp has the casualties of Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez, Nabi Keita, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, while Rafa Banítez, who yesterday asked for the support of the fans to get out of the delicate situation that Everton is going through, will not be able to have Dominic Calvert- Lewin, Yerry Mina and Tom Davies.
Thomas Tuchel expects a more accurate Chelsea today, after 1-1 at home to Burnley and United, and could line up Romelu Lukaku as a starter after a month injured. Ben Chilwell, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kanté are still out, while Timo Werner, Jorginho and Reece James are doubtful. Ranieri has several notable absences such as winger Ismaila Sarr, goalkeeper Ben Foster and center-back Nicolas Nkoulou.
The City, still without De Bruyne
For his part, Guardiola, without Ferran Torres, the sanctioned Aymeric Laporte and a Kevin De Bruyne still without training after overcoming the Covid, is pending Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, who would face Aston Villa in case of being ready after leaving to Manchester City in the summer.
Probable lineups
Watford-Chelsea
Vicarage Road, 20.30 hours
Watford: Bachmann; Femenía, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Masina; Cucho Hernández, Cleverley, Moussa Sissoko, Tufan, King; Joao Pedro
Coach: Claudio Ranieri
Chelsea: Bachmann; Femenía, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Masina; Cucho Hernández, Cleverley, Moussa Sissoko, Tufan, King; Joao Pedro
Coach: Claudio Ranieri
Referee: David Coote
Aston Villa-Manchester City
Villa Park, 9:15 p.m.
Aston Villa: Emi Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Jacob Ramsey; Buendía, Watkins y Ashley Young
Coach: Steven Gerrard
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Rúben Dias, Cancelo; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Gündogan; Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus and Sterling
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Árbitro: Mike Dean
Everton-Liverpool
Goodison Park, 9:15 p.m.
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Godfrey, Keane, Digne; Townsend, Allan, Doucouré, Iwobi; Gray; Richarlison
Coach: Rafa Benítez
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold; Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago Alcántara; Salah, Diogo Jota and Mané
Entrenador: Jürgen Klopp
Referee: Paul Tierney
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