Second-placed Chelsea take on Liverpool in third for the first big broadsides of 2022. The Blues are second best on form over the past eight on the road, but at home there is plenty of room for improvement.

Chelsea’s present misfortunes are well known, but this is a club that could easily have ‘Triumph in Adversity’ as its motto, and Stamford Bridge embraces few wins more enthusiastically than those against the Reds. The reverse fixture at Anfield ended 1-1 despite Reece James’ controversial first-half dismissal, earning plaudits for a defensive masterclass from Thomas Tuchel’s side.

The Londoners are unbeaten in two against the Merseysiders, though they have won on their last two visits to the Bridge. Victory would ease the champions of Europe four points clear of Jurgen Klopp’s men, who have pocketed one point from their past two league games. Their second top-flight defeat of the season came at Leicester, but they have had a day extra to recover for this showdown. They have played one game fewer than Chelsea.

Both clubs will be hoping for a New Year’s Day treat over Saturday lunch from Arsenal, who host eight-clear leaders Manchester City. And, for the first time since 1994, safe standing will be permitted at Stamford Bridge, with Tuchel welcoming the move, and hoping it will boost the crowd. ‘We absolutely need them at their best level,’ he added.

Chelsea team news

Christmas was especially expensive for Chelsea this year. Eight players have hobbled off the field in the past six league games, and opponents have scored four late goals.

Tuchel has openly admitted the relentless schedule and succession of players lost to illness or injury is making planning virtually impossible. The rhythm of training, preparing and playing has gone to rack and ruin in the last few weeks.

His side have taken the lead on 21 occasions this term but conceded nine equalising goals. That translates to 11 points lost from winning positions – more than the 10 recorded over the whole of last season.

Tuchel was also unhappy about decisions from the officials in the Brighton game. When the footballing gods are against you…

The Bavarian’s key selection concern is in the wing-back position, where the qualities of in-form Reece James (a major doubt for Sunday’s game) and long-term absentee Ben Chilwell will be sorely missed. Marcos Alonso may continue on the left but unless an option can be found to release Cesar Azpilicueta from centre-back, Christian Pulisic or Callum Hudson-Odoi will be handed the responsibility on the right.

Ross Barkley, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech were unused substitutes on Wednesday but an attack led by goalscorer Romelu Lukaku created sufficient chances to put Brighton to bed long before their late leveller. The Belgian’s header was the Londoners’ eighth of the campaign and seventh from a corner – both the most in the top flight. Mason Mount’s crisp delivery produced his fifth assist.

Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic looked exhausted towards the end of the 90 minutes and it seems likely N’Golo Kante will start in central midfield, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s availability is uncertain. Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester beat Liverpool using a midfield diamond to catch out their raiding full-backs, exploiting the area behind Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It is a set-up Chelsea deployed effectively in the 4-0 Champions League dismantling of Juventus, curtailing the Old Lady’s wide threat and subduing danger man Federico Chiesa.

Klopp clamour

Jurgen Klopp admitted his side were not looking themselves in their 1-0 loss at Leicester on Tuesday with ‘so many performances below the normal level.’

The much-changed Foxes were particularly aggressive in the tackle and looked to break swiftly in possession, exploiting space behind the Reds’ high defensive line, especially their full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas.

Like the Blues at home to Brighton, Liverpool carved out enough chances to win the game, attempting to exploit the hosts’ narrow defensive block – wide areas which are also a concern for depleted Chelsea. But upfront the cogs in the machine were all a notch out as Mohamed Salah missed a penalty and Sadio Mane blasted over an open goal.

The Reds are likely to stick with Fabinho as holding midfielder and Jordan Henderson slightly more advanced on the right (on Tuesday he made way for Roberto Firmino during the second half). Influential left-back Andy Robertson is still suspended.

Curiously, the Merseysiders have won only one of their past nine starts to the year away from home, drawing four and losing four.

Epic month ahead

The race for the title remains to be run and the first month of 2022 is bound to be a fragmented one for all three title challengers, with involvement in other competitions and players missing because of Covid or international duty.

This is one of the three top-flight outings among six January fixtures for Thomas Tuchel’s men, the same as the Reds. Remarkably, the Blues’ next league action in a fortnight’s time is our last chance to have a direct impact on the league leaders. City, out of the Carabao Cup, are scheduled to play four across all competitions this month.

AFCON absences

Chelsea’s Senegal goalkeeper Edou Mendy and the Liverpool trio of Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Naby Keita (Guinea) have been permitted to play this fixture before jetting out to Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The earliest any players can return home is 20 January, when the group stage ends. The final is scheduled for 9 February and Egypt and Senegal are among the favourites to appear in it. Tournament matches will be broadcast by the BBC and Sky Sports in the UK.

Auf wiedersehen, 2021

We have just bid farewell to a year in which Chelsea enjoyed an unforgettable triumph over Manchester City in the Champions League final, and the same two sides have performed well ahead of the field over the calendar year.

Club World Cupdate

Chelsea’s fifth field of battle this season, the Club World Cup, finally comes around next month. Potential opponents Palmeiras have parted ways with one of their key players, former Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo. The Sao Paulo club decided not to renew the 38-year-old’s contract (which expired on New Year’s Eve) and he left just a week after helping them clinch to their second successive Copa Libertadores title.

Egypt’s Al-Ahly had a request for delaying the start of the FIFA competition as there is a three-day overlap (3-6 February) with the latter stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, where nine of their squad will be competing.

Meanwhile Auckland City have been forced to withdraw from the tournament because of New Zealand’s Covid regulations regarding entry to and exit from the country. They have been replaced by AS Pirae from Tahiti.

Matchweek 21 Premier League results and fixtures

SaturdayArsenal v Man City 12.30pm (BT Sport)Leicester v Norwich 3pmWatford v Tottenham 3pmCrystal Palace v West Ham 5.30pm (Sky Sports)

SundayBrentford v Aston Villa 2pm (Sky Sports)Everton v Brighton 2pmLeeds v Burnley 2pmSouthampton v Newcastle 2pmChelsea v Liverpool 4.30pm (Sky Sports)

MondayMan Utd v Wolves 5.30pm (Sky Sports)