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

9 May 2026 210 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
210 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 hours, 20 mins ago

    *sigh* last change was Enzo first sub

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 24 mins ago

      Poor management!

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      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 hour, 28 mins ago

        I knew this will happen

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    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 24 mins ago

      Same

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    3. WVA
      • 9 Years
      2 hours, 17 mins ago

      We just need a Semenyo hattrick now

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  2. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    3 hours, 20 mins ago

    Told some folks to open a Kentucky Fried Whelk franchise!

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 47 mins ago

      Have you cornered the Whelk distribution market?

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    2. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      2 hours, 46 mins ago

      Captain Whelksight! Where were you before the great whelk pop-off?

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  3. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 19 mins ago

    Noone suggested I start Enzo 😆

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 46 mins ago

      You should sue those people

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    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 44 mins ago

      Not mentioned on any FPL GW 36 video even with 20 players start or bench list that I could see

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  4. Bigbars
    • 15 Years
    3 hours, 18 mins ago

    I may be wrong, but Can't chelsea still make the champs league with a win here, And a defeat ends their hopes ?

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    1. _Greg
      • 16 Years
      2 hours, 45 mins ago

      They need to finish 6th but also for Liverpool to win their last two to make sure they get 4th, Villa playing Burnley complicates everything this week if Chelsea win here. This result changes the whole direction of the 6th place rush if Liverpool drop points, intriguing.

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        2 hours, 44 mins ago

        Watch Villa lose 1-0

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        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 hours, 44 mins ago

          2 days recovery wouldn't put it past us

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      2. Bigbars
        • 15 Years
        2 hours, 43 mins ago

        ta... yes intriguing... Cant see Liverpool wanting Europa. Main thing is to keep teams playing for a prize, so they dont go on the beach and tank games. If they are still in the fight, teams will continue to try harder

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        1. _Greg
          • 16 Years
          2 hours, 40 mins ago

          Liverpool need 4 points to secure CL, Aston Villa Vs Liverpool on Friday will be a good start to gw37.

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  5. WVA
    • 9 Years
    3 hours, 14 mins ago

    FFS Pedro not involved

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  6. The Reptile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 8 mins ago

    Gackpo has been so bad since I got him in a few weeks ago

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 38 mins ago

      I'm guessing Pool feel the same since they got him

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  7. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 hours, 8 mins ago

    I went Justin from Leeds last minute over Enzo. Hope Justin gets a jammy goal or injured in warm up

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  8. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 7 mins ago

    Enzo G will probably be Fofana G looking at TNT replays

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 30 mins ago

      Please

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    2. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 25 mins ago

      Really odd how it is given to Enzo.

      Doesn't make the scoring totals that credible when obvious goals to other players are not given.

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  9. JBG
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 58 mins ago

    Lol at Pool

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 28 mins ago

      Palmer G

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        2 hours, 28 mins ago

        No assist

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  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 58 mins ago

    Palmer goal

    We all sold Palmer for Saka right....right?

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    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 57 mins ago

      offside though

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    2. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 57 mins ago

      Ofc. No brainer

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  11. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 57 mins ago

    If you didnt TC haaland you have to hope your cap blanks in a dgw. The lack of fun associated with this game is off the charts

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 55 mins ago

      I tripled OReilly so I really hope my captain doesn't blank

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    2. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      2 hours, 53 mins ago

      Or, you accept that the blank is unlikely and stop stressing yourself.

      Unlikely for you I know, but the rest of us can manage it.

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      1. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        2 hours, 14 mins ago

        Not stressing at all. Just stating facts. The people that run this game would do good to make it more fun to play. This season in particular has been utter dross. Remove chips. Remove captaincy. Remove everything that means you are sitting there hoping your players do poorly and that incentivizes template thinking.

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  12. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 57 mins ago

    A twist of fate has brought me short of getting Saliba next week. Might just bring in Lewis Skelly as a differential.

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  13. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 57 mins ago

    Cold

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  14. JBG
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 57 mins ago

    Maybe offside on Cucurella

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 56 mins ago

      Offside

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    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 56 mins ago

      Yep off

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  15. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 57 mins ago

    Ffs Palmer

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  16. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 57 mins ago

    looks off

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  17. WVA
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 56 mins ago

    Sold Palmer for Saka instead of Pedro for Gyokeres, we know what happens

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  18. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    2 hours, 56 mins ago

    Palmer must have so many sales!

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  19. Ady87
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 55 mins ago

    Phew, was a real risk there for a minute that the £10m sack of dung I’ve been carrying for months might have returned some points

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    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 54 mins ago

      How many months?

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  20. JBG
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 54 mins ago

    How are Pool this bad in attack?

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    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 53 mins ago

      Slot has coached it all out of them

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    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 40 mins ago

      Wasted all the money on flopp Isak

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  21. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    2 hours, 54 mins ago

    If you kept Palmer now you are absolutely fuming!

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    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      2 hours, 52 mins ago

      Yeah that's really hard to take for owners

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    2. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 50 mins ago

      Normally im numb but that one annoyed me

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  22. DeSelby
    • 3 Years
    2 hours, 50 mins ago

    Ref losing control of the game and Mac Allister in the mood for a red card. Good times.

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  23. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 49 mins ago

    Jones nets...but offside

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  24. WVA
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 47 mins ago

    Szobo so good

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  25. JBG
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 46 mins ago

    Cunha starts, no Mbuemo or Šeško

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    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 15 mins ago

      Nice

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  26. JBG
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 45 mins ago

    Lammens
    Mazraoui
    Maguire
    Martinez
    Shaw
    Mainoo
    Mount
    Amad
    Fernandes (c)
    Cunha
    Zirkzee

    Substitutes: Bayindir, Dalot, Dorgu, Heaven, Malacia, Yoro, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Mbeumo.

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    1. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 26 mins ago

      Cunha starting, earlier rumors of rest just bs

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      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 22 mins ago

        Earlier rumors again?! Last time I owned he missed out due to injury. This would have hurt so bad because I deserve a haul

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        1. Pompel
          • 12 Years
          2 hours, 13 mins ago

          Article in Manchester Evening News. Hoping for at least a sneaky goal now

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  27. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 43 mins ago

    I saw Jules Breach in the crowd!

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    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 38 mins ago

      Any relation to Ronnie Pickering?

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      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        2 hours, 31 mins ago

        Who?

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    2. Evasivo
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 33 mins ago

      All 4ft of her, usually identified by screeching voice and poor questions!

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      1. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        2 hours, 28 mins ago

        Greta Thunberg?

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  28. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 41 mins ago

    Both keepers doing their best to have a howler, which one will deliver?

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  29. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    2 hours, 39 mins ago

    Get Casemiro on BB, not in squad. Carrick gives absolutely nothing away!

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 8 mins ago

      Genuinely didn't notice that when posting that lineup, just assume he's there. Very weird

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      1. _Greg
        • 16 Years
        1 hour, 20 mins ago

        Man Utd Mount Bruno Mainoo midfield, if that's not both team to score I don't know what is.

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  30. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 36 mins ago

    Szlob almost breaks the post

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    1. _Greg
      • 16 Years
      2 hours, 33 mins ago

      Lord of the Rings

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