Liverpool v Chelsea LIVE: Isak on the bench as Ngumoha starts crucial Premier League clash at Anfield
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There will be an interim manager in the Chelsea dugout today; not for the first time in this fixture, given that Saltor’s only game in charge, following Graham Potter’s sacking and before Frank Lampard became a slightly more permanent caretaker, was a 0-0 draw against Liverpool in 2023.If their owners are engaging in the “self-reflection” they promised after Liam Rosenior’s sacking, they may care to note that as many people have taken charge of Chelsea in their four-year ownership – eight – as have led Liverpool this millennium; and that is including Phil Thompson, who only assumed the reins because Gerard Houllier was ill.Or perhaps, still convinced of their genius, they are simultaneously preparing their next managerial appointment while finding more loopholes to avoid breaching financial regulations now it is apparent they won’t have Champions League football next season; something for which Liverpool, whose passage back into Europe has been eased by Chelsea’s run of six straight defeats, can be very grateful.Read Richard Jolly’s full analysis of the Chelsea mess:Luke Baker9 May 2026 11:50Colwill's return a huge boost for Chelsea but Wirtz a miss for LiverpoolOur Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly is at Anfield to day and has given his take on the line-ups.Levi Colwill gets his first start of the season for Chelsea and, among the many things have gone wrong this season, his absence for nearly all of it has been one. They do at least have Giorgi Mamardashvili back while Rio Ngumoha makes just his third Premier League start against his former club.Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Gakpo Chelsea XI: Jorgenson; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Hato; Caicedo, Santos, Enzo; Palmer, PedroRichard Jolly at Anfield9 May 2026 11:36Chelsea team news - James on the bench, Colwill startsThis is Chelsea’s line-up today.
Fit-again Alexander Isak is only on the bench while Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo both start.As reported, Giorgi Mamardashvili is fit and starts between the sticks.Luke Baker9 May 2026 11:24Why spotlight on Liverpool’s dressing room culture is a sign of a changing clubLiverpool set the standards last season. Slot does not concur.Read Richard Jolly’s full analysis of the Liverpool situationLuke Baker9 May 2026 11:10Chelsea's remarkable collapseThings have been going very, very badly for Chelsea recently.
They were right in the hunt for Champions League football but have now lost six straight Premier League games to drop to ninth.Only Joao Pedro’s spectacular late consolation in the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out stopped them from going goalless for the entirety of that six-game streak...They are now in serious danger of missing out on European football entirely, trailing seventh-placed Brentford by three points (the exact number of English teams in Europe next season is yet to be determined.They do still have the FA Cup final against Man City later this month as another potential route to Europe as well.(Getty)Luke Baker9 May 2026 10:58Liverpool close to Champions League footballLiverpool can take a big step towards Champions League football this lunchtime and maybe even seal it later today.The Premier League top five will all qualify for competition due to England’s co-efficient and victory for Liverpool would put them nine points clear of Bournemouth in sixth, who only have three games left.The first of those comes this afternoon away to Fulham, so any dropped points for Andoni Iraola’s side if the Reds have won earlier, would seal the deal for Arne Slot’s side.Even if not mathematically secure today, Liverpool’s goal difference is nine better than Bournemouth currently, so victory would all but take them there.Liverpool can all but secure Champions League qualification with victory (Getty)Luke Baker9 May 2026 10:51How to watch Liverpool vs ChelseaLiverpool take on Chelsea this lunchtime with kick-off at Anfield at 12:30pm BST.It will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max. Luke Baker9 May 2026 10:28Early Chelsea team news - Colwill and James should be availableChelsea should have Levi Colwill and Reece James available, with interim boss Calum McFarlane saying in his pre-match press conference: “We’ve got a few lads returning, so Levi’s trained another full week again, Reece as well, so it’s looking promising,” However, Robert Sanchez is out due to a head injury and Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are doubts due to knocks.