Liverpool are back at Anfield on Saturday with a golden opportunity to seal their Champions League spot. Arne Slot's men currently sit fourth in the table with 58 points, holding a comfortable seven-point lead over seventh-placed Brentford with just three games left. A win here would officially confirm their return to Europe's elite competition. But the Reds will need to shake off the disappointment of last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.
It's been a season of defensive struggles for Liverpool, who have conceded two or more goals in 16 different league matches — their worst defensive record since the 2012-13 campaign under Brendan Rodgers. Despite that, there's reason for optimism: the Reds are unbeaten in their last four home games against Chelsea. Dominik Szoboszlai continues to be the engine in midfield, tallying an impressive 13 goals and 10 assists this season.
Slot delivered some good news in his pre-match press conference. Striker Alexander Isak has returned to training and is in contention to face Chelsea. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is also back after recovering from a leg wound sustained in the Merseyside derby. He trained fully for the first time yesterday, though Slot said he'd monitor the Georgian's response before deciding on his involvement.
Not everyone is fit, though. Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker haven't yet joined team sessions and remain unavailable. Both are reportedly close to returning but will miss Saturday's early kick-off. Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz are available despite missing some sessions earlier this week — Konate for personal reasons and Wirtz after a minor illness. Conor Bradley, meanwhile, is still a long way from returning as he continues his lengthy rehabilitation.
Here's the predicted Liverpool lineup: Woodman; Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Frimpong, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Gakpo.
The Premier League clash at Anfield kicks off at 12:30 BST on Saturday, 9 May 2026. It's a match that could define Liverpool's season — and confirm their place among Europe's best once again.