Five things to look out for in Liverpool vs Chelsea including Mudryk’s Blues debut and Klopp’s major milestone

Liverpool and Chelsea kick off a huge Premier League weekend as both sides look to spring themselves out of a crisis.

Both sides were title contenders before a ball was kicked in the 2022/23 season. However, at the halfway stage Liverpool and Chelsea sit ninth and tenth in the Premier League respectively.

A defeat or even a draw could spell the end of either side’s hopes of securing Champions League qualifications

Graham Potter has endured a tumultuous first few months at the Chelsea helm, though his side did get back to winning ways against Crystal Palace last time out.

Meanwhile, Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup in midweek after a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Brighton last weekend.

Here are five things to look out for in Liverpool’s home encounter against Chelsea.

Mykhailo Mudryk’s Chelsea debut

Mykhailo Mudryk has been one of the most talked about names of the January transfer window.

Arsenal looked set to sign the 22-year-old from Shakhtar Donetsk before Chelsea swooped in with an £89million bid at the last.

Indeed, in his pre-match press conference, Potter suggested there is a good chance the Ukrainian winger could make his debut at Anfield.

The Chelsea boss said: “He’s obviously come from a mid-season break so hasn’t played so much football recently, but has been training well, so we’ll assess him and see how much he can play at the weekend.

“There’s a chance he could make his debut. It’s how much he can do. I think 90 minutes no, but there’s probably a role for him at some stage in the game.”

Mudryk is poised to become the second Ukrainian to make a Premier League appearance for the Blues, after Andriy Shevchenko.

Darwin Nunez to return for Liverpool

Darwin Nunez has been out with a hamstring injury for the Reds’ last two encounters, and in that time his presence up front has been missed.

However, the Uruguay international returned to team training on Thursday and will be in contention to take part in Saturday’s game at Anfield.

Nunez has blown hot and cold since his initial £64million summer transfer from Benfica to Liverpool.

The 23-year-old’s inconsistent finishing and erratic playing style have drawn criticism from certain quarters of the football world.

However, only five players have reached 10 goals for Liverpool quicker than the Uruguay international, who has done so in only 23 matches.

Kante to return for Chelsea?

N’Golo Kante could make his Chelsea return against Liverpool after a four-month injury lay-off.

The midfielder suffered a serious hamstring injury in October that forced him out of France’s run to the World Cup final in Qatar.

However, he has since been spotted in first-team training and could make his first appearance in months against the Blues.

Kante has been central to Chelsea’s success since moving to west London from Leicester in 2016. The diminutive French star has claimed a Premier League and Champions League medal since moving to Stamford Bridge.

The 31-year-old, who is out of contract at Chelsea in the summer, has been undergoing individual work at Cobham, though it remains to be seen whether he is fit enough to travel to Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his 1000th competitive game (Alamy)

Jurgen Klopp’s 1000th game

Liverpool’s match against Chelsea will be the 1000th competitive game managed by Jurgen Klopp.

The German has so far managed 999 matches for Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.

In his 22 years in the dugout, he has masterminded his own ‘heavy metal’ style of football while claiming two Bundesliga titles, the Premier League, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

On the milestone, Klopp said: “It is a massive thing. I did the job for the clubs I loved.

“It is a crazy number but the beard is now really grey. That was not the case when I arrived here. I am not sure if that is because of the age and Liverpool.

“It is for me the best job in the world. It is not a relaxing job, not a job where you have a lot of holiday but I love it.

"I feel blessed I can do it because it is pretty much the only job I can do. I am fine with the excitement, the pressure, the outstanding moments and the less good moments. It is part of the deal.

“Nobody wins all the time. I knew that early. Perhaps people should get an honour for 1000 good games – I am not sure anyone would get that.”

Azpilicueta’s 500th Chelsea appearance

In a fixture of major milestones, Cesar Azpilicueta will make his 500th Chelsea appearance, if he takes to the Anfield pitch.

The 33-year-old will join just five players who have reached that landmark for Chelsea, while he will be the first to do so born overseas.

Azpilicueta joined the Blues in August 2012 and of the 606 games Chelsea have played since the Spaniard has missed just nine through injury or illness.

His time at Chelsea includes two Premier League winners medals, while he captained the Blues to the Europa League in 2019, the Champions League in 2021 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021.