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Liverpool v Chelsea team news: Wirtz out, Isak a sub

9 May 2026 196 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Two of the season’s biggest underachievers meet at Anfield in the Gameweek 36 curtain-raiser.

Liverpool v Chelsea kicks off at 12:30pm BST.

A win for the Reds would all but seal UEFA Champions League qualification, with Bournemouth, the only team that could then catch them, having an inferior goal difference.

As for Chelsea, defeat would all but end their Champions League hopes. Already out of reach of fifth spot, they’d be rank outsiders for sixth place without a positive result today.

Remember, sixth could end up being enough to qualify for Europe’s top-tier competition in 2026/27.

TEAM NEWS

Arne Slot makes three changes from the side that lost to Manchester United last weekend.

Giorgi Mamardashvili returns in goal after recovering from injury, so Freddie Woodman makes way.

There’s the expected change at left-back, too, with Milos Kerkez replacing Andrew Robertson.

The other alteration is an enforced one, as Florian Wirtz misses out with a stomach bug. The German had missed training in midweek but had actually returned to the grass by Thursday.

Rio Ngumoha starts in his place.

Alexander Isak is back on the bench after a brief absence, meanwhile.

Mohamed Salah and Alisson, described as “close” to a return to training on Friday, remain out.

As for Chelsea, interim boss Calum McFarlane makes five changes from the defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The fit-again Levi Colwill gets his first start of the season, while Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana also come in to a new-look defence.

Andrey Santos is brought into midfield, as Filip Jorgensen gets the nod between the posts.

Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Romeo Lavia drop to the bench, while Robert Sanchez and teenage attacker Jesse Derry miss out with head injuries.

Reece James has to make do with substitute duty again.

Thanks to the chronic shortage of fit wingers, it looks like Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella are tasked with the wide-midfield roles today.

LINE-UPS

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Jones, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha, Gakpo.

Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Isak, Chiesa, Robertson, Nyoni, Morrison, Wright, Ndiaye.

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Hato, Andrey Santos, Caicedo, Palmer, Fernandez, Cucurella, Joao Pedro.

Subs: Slonina, James, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Lavia, Eboue, Kavuma-McQueen, Delap.

price change predictions
196 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Cojones of Destiny
    • 8 Years
    33 mins ago

    oh man just realized I forgot to play my TC chip loool at me haha ))

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      21 mins ago

      Haaland?

      Also don't understand why people just don't press the button asap, instead of waiting. You can cancel it if you need to.

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        21 mins ago

        Same with people who forgot to press the BB chip. Just do it.

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      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        20 mins ago

        Yeah locked in 4 days ago

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      3. Cojones of Destiny
        • 8 Years
        20 mins ago

        yep

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      4. Cojones of Destiny
        • 8 Years
        19 mins ago

        no I forgot to push TC entirely))

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        1. JBG
          • 8 Years
          18 mins ago

          Oh okay thats different haha, shame. Kind of waste C this GW then

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          1. Cojones of Destiny
            • 8 Years
            7 mins ago

            well who knows may be blessing in disguise) imagine Haaland getting say just one goal overall

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            1. JBG
              • 8 Years
              5 mins ago

              As a non owner, I'm hoping for a blank so I'll take that even

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              1. Cojones of Destiny
                • 8 Years
                just now

                no Haaland really ??

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    2. _Greg
      • 16 Years
      21 mins ago

      Try bench boosting with 14 players with Casemiro no show who I bought for a hit, yeyyy season.

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      1. MikeBravo
        • 7 Years
        3 mins ago

        Unlucky Greg. I brought in Saka for Casemiro. It was a toss-up between getting rid of him or KDH. I got lucky this time, but I think I'll take a break next season. I feel your pain.

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  2. JBG
    • 8 Years
    32 mins ago

    Enzo loves a YC

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  3. Sandy Ravage
    • 10 Years
    21 mins ago

    On BB and just seen Okafor's red flagged

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  4. JBG
    • 8 Years
    19 mins ago

    Wtf was that on the goal line? Can't stand the way teams setup now on attacking corners.

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  5. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    19 mins ago

    Caicedo is a talent, but also a dirty, cheating bell.

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  6. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    18 mins ago

    Kept Mbeumo for this game. Can't wait to get rid.

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  7. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    16 mins ago

    So the rumors about Brazil having a deal with United to rest Cunha was pure bs as I said..

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      15 mins ago

      What if he is subbed at halftime?

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      1. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        11 mins ago

        Then it might have been only partially bs

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        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          10 mins ago

          Getting rest and time managed does not mean not playing at all. I agree that it’s probably bs though.

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      2. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        11 mins ago

        Enough time for a goal against the beach boys

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        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          9 mins ago

          Wouldn’t it be nice?

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    2. JBG
      • 8 Years
      14 mins ago

      Missing Šeško and Mbuemo out of form.

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  8. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    11 mins ago

    Excellent week for Palmer and JP sellers and Pool non owners. Enzo owners the only ones doing well so far

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      9 mins ago

      Enzo owner with Enzo first sub, no so good 😆

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      1. Jet5605
        • 11 Years
        9 mins ago

        Soz, should have said Enzo starters 🙂

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        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 13 Years
          4 mins ago

          https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2026/05/08/are-palace-players-really-worth-buying-saka-or-gyokeres-fpl-qa?hc_page=1#hc_comment_27631087

          Nobody fancied Enzo

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    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      9 mins ago

      Was pretty convinced Pedro was getting a hattrick today. Looking like a bad call. Will chalk that one up to variance.

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  9. DeSelby
    • 3 Years
    7 mins ago

    van Dijk screams for a foul then the ref calls it and van Dijk screams at the referee for not playing advantage. You love to see it.

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

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  10. el polako
    • 8 Years
    7 mins ago

    Van Dijk you donkey.

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  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 mins ago

    Liverpool fans have always told me that Pool buys very clever and cheap and refuses to contribute to the money race than the Manchester clubs etc. do. The big spendings before this season was a break with this policy money wise, and were they clever and good value for money?

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    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      6 mins ago

      They would have been better off doubling Luiz Diaz’s salary.

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      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 mins ago

        Agree, and maby buying Olise from Palace

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    2. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      1 min ago

      Their buying strategy this season completely contradicted how they have been buying before with success. Both Isak and Ekitike are much more rigid players in terms of their role in a team, compared to the players they had success buying. Salah, Mane, Firmino, Diaz. Isak can just do one role, was overpriced and injury prone. Made no sense to splurge on a player who fits better into a mid table team with how you need to set up to utilize him well..

      Honestly, has there been a change of personnel at the sporting director side at Pool?

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  12. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    6 mins ago

    So if Pedro was an option for the bench, he was the answer, I did say

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