Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players and team tactics, and assesses where Premier League matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 7.
Team analysis: Chelsea
After making a bright start to 2025/26, Chelsea have hit a sticky patch ahead of their heavyweight encounter at home to Liverpool.
Enzo Maresca's FIFA Club World Cup winners are searching for a lift after losing back-to-back Premier League matches, but they will be without "seven or eight" key players through injury and suspension for Saturday’s encounter at Stamford Bridge, according to the head coach.
Why are Chelsea letting in so many goals?
Chelsea have conceded seven times across their last three Premier League fixtures and must raise their resilience levels against opponents who have netted in each of their last 40 top-flight outings.
The Blues failure to adequately deal with crosses has been a recurring theme in recent weeks.
Cluster injuries in the centre-back department have not helped their cause, but Chelsea will still feel disappointed at the way they have defended the far post.
The issue began at Brentford, when Alejandro Garnacho lost concentration at the back post from a long throw, allowing Fabio Carvalho to equalise late on.
In their 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, both Manchester United goals featured left wing-back Patrick Dorgu being left unmarked in space at the far post.
For United's opener, Reece James, Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana did not get tight enough to Bruno Fernandes.
And just a few minutes later, in the phase of play which led to Casemiro’s goal, a short corner had Chelsea’s entire defence ball watching, allowing Dorgu to run unopposed into that same problem area before feeding it back into the penalty area.
Then last weekend, albeit when they were down to 10 men once again, Chelsea did not do enough to stop a cross being sent into their area.
James had a two-man overload to deal with at the far post and Mats Wieffer nodded the ball across for Maxim De Cuyper to score.
Chelsea must defend the far post area in open play and from set-pieces significantly better than this against a Liverpool team with such potent attacking firepower.
Helping Joao Pedro out
Joao Pedro did not have a shot or touch inside the opposition box against his former club Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.
In fact, the Chelsea striker has not had a single attempt in any of the last two Premier League matches, having scored twice and assisted twice in his opening three top-flight appearances for the Blues.
The Brazilian’s last shot on target was at home to Fulham on 30 August.
Joao Pedro naturally comes deep to link play, and that side of his game has superseded a willingness to make runs in behind the last line of late.
But as a collective Chelsea have also failed to provide him with anywhere near enough service in the penalty area.
This touch map (below), and passes received chalkboard (below that) from combined appearances against Brentford, Man Utd and Brighton, show how starved Joao Pedro has been inside the final 20 yards of the pitch.
Joao Pedro touch map - last three matches
Joao Pedro passes received - last three matches
Maresca's decisions
Chelsea’s recent discipline has been poor, seeing a player sent off in three of their last four matches in all competitions.
Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah and Joao Pedro were each shown red for different offences.
When reduced to 10 men against Man Utd and Brighton, head coach Maresca made some major tactical changes.
At Old Trafford, he sacrificed wingers Estevao and Pedro Neto after just seven minutes, leaving his side shorn of the pace and ball-carrying qualities needed to carry them up the pitch.
With Cole Palmer an injury doubt going into that match, many felt it would have been wiser to replace him instead.
After Chalobah was dismissed against Brighton, Maresca replaced Estevao and Andrey Santos with Josh Acheampong and Malo Gusto.
Those pragmatic choices saw Chelsea operate with a back five, and a midfield packed with defensive-minded players for the second half, when they let a 1-0 lead turn into a 3-1 defeat.
If Maresca experiences another setback against Liverpool, the home supporters will hope he learns the lessons from the previous matches before making any radical tactical alterations.
Key men: Neto and Fernandez
In the continued absence of Palmer, Chelsea will need form players Neto and Fernandez to step up and inspire the team.
Portuguese winger Neto has looked menacing on both flanks this season, making an impressive 43 progressive ball carries.
With Liverpool looking unsettled in the full-back areas, Neto’s speed and dribbling prowess has potential to be a weapon for them in this encounter.
The accuracy of his crosses may also be a factor.
Only two Premier League players have produced more successful crosses than Neto after six match rounds.
Most successful crosses 25/26
| Player | Total* |
| Mohammed Kudus (WHU) | 14 |
|---|---|
| Bryan Mbeumo (MUN) | 12 |
| Bukayo Saka (ARS) | 7 |
| Pedro Neto (CHE) | 7 |
*Including corners
Fernandez has three goals and one assist this season, and his box-to-box style will ask questions of his midfield opponents.
Liverpool's midfield unit was unusually open against Galatasaray in their UEFA Champions League defeat, and a failure to solidify their middle could prove costly.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres is the only player to make more bursts into the opposition area than Fernandez, who got on the end of crosses to score against both Brighton and West Ham United.
Most off-ball runs ending in to opposition area 25/26
| Player | Total |
| Viktor Gyokeres (ARS) | 42 |
|---|---|
| Enzo Fernandez (CHE) | 35 |
| Evanilson (BOU) | 34 |
| Daniel Munoz (CRY) | 33 |
| Mohammed Kudus (TOT) | 33 |
This Opta graphic below highlights how frequently Fernandez pushes on with a forward run, and because he is a quality finisher, those sprints cannot be ignored by Liverpool.
A failure to track his runs may be fatal.
A pressure game awaits
Chelsea have not lost three consecutive league matches since Frank Lampard was in charge back in May 2023.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have lost two in a row for only the second time under Arne Slot, going down 2-1 at Crystal Palace and 1-0 at Galatasaray in the space of a week.
This inevitably means there will be extra scrutiny on both sides at Stamford Bridge as they each aim to end their losing runs.
On paper, with both teams struggling at the back, attack could be the best form of defence.