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Antonio Conte’s unbeaten start to his Chelsea tenure will face its biggest test when Liverpool visit Stamford Bridge, live on Friday Night.
Last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Swansea is the only blip for a much-improved Chelsea, who have taken 10 points from four games and are back in their familiar spot in the top four after last season’s mid-table slump.
John Terry is out injured so David Luiz is ready to fill in and make a second club debut after his Deadline Day move from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Friday Night Football game will also see two of the most vibrant Premier League managers meet, with Jurgen Klopp full of praise for his opposite number ahead of the game.
“He is a great manager, something like the ‘Pep Guardiola of Juventus’ if you want,” Klopp said. “He looks quite emotional, even when they don’t score. Naijabet odd
“They were champions two years ago and then had a difficult year and they changed their manager,” he added.
“Last season was not a Chelsea season and now they are back on track, so we need to be ready for a real challenge.”
Chelsea are missing Terry with an ankle injury, with the skipper joining fellow centre-back Kurt Zouma on the sidelines. Zouma is a long-term absentee with a knee ligament problem. Squad player Marco van Ginkel is the only other injury concern for the Blues.
Liverpool also have concerns over the fitness of a central defender, although Dejan Lovren is expected to be ready to play after bruising his eye in the win over Leicester. Emre Can is struggling to recover from an ankle injury in time, while Joe Gomez remains out but is inching closer to a return to training.
This will be the 53rd meeting between these two sides in all competitions this century, more than any other two teams in English professional football.
Chelsea have lost just once in their last eight Premier League games against Liverpool, though that was in this fixture last season (W3 D4).
Chelsea have lost just once on a Friday in the Premier League, losing 4-2 to Charlton Athletic in December 2003 (W2 D3).
Liverpool have won four of their last five Premier League games contested on a Friday, losing the other to Arsenal in April 2004.
If Chelsea win, it will be the 27th home win in this fixture in the Premier League (currently 13 each) – no Premier League fixture has had more (Liverpool v Newcastle also 27).
Jurgen Klopp recorded his first Premier League win versus Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October 2015.
Diego Costa has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances, including four in four under Conte this season.
The Reds have scored more Premier League goals in 2016 than any other side (50), with 24 of these coming away from home – a joint league-high alongside Tottenham.
Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 home league games, though this was in their last fixture against Burnley (3-0).
The Blues have won their last two home league games – they’ve not won three in a row at Stamford Bridge since May 2015, when they sealed the Premier League title against Crystal Palace.
Klopp’s side have conceded in each of their last eight Premier League away games – they last went nine without a clean sheet in May 2005.
Conte has not lost any of his last 30 home league matches as a manager (W28 D2 L0) – his last home defeat in league competition came on January 6th 2013 for Juventus against Sampdoria. He has won his last 21 league games at home as a manager.
Chelsea have only allowed their opponents seven shots on target in their four Premier League games (a league-low) but they have conceded four goals from these.
Chelsea are on 2.17 with niajabet while Liverpool are on 3.13, the draw is priced at 3.47
Moussa Dembele is available to face Monaco in Tottenham’s opening Champions League group game on Wednesday.
Spurs received a boost on Tuesday when they confirmed a new five-year contract for midfielder Eric Dier.
Dembele’s availability is further good news for Mauricio Pochettino, although the Tottenham manager will be without Danny Rose, who is still recovering from a knock suffered on England duty.
These two teams met each other for the first time in last season’s Europa League group stage, with Spurs winning 4-1 at White Hart Lane.
Wednesday’s game will see a change of venue, though, as Tottenham host Monaco at Wembley due to the continuing development of their new stadium in north London.
Team news
Spurs welcome back Dembele, who has missed the first four games of the campaign due to a domestic ban carried over from last season.
He received the suspension for violent conduct after clashing with Chelsea striker Diego Costa during the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino may look to ease the Belgium international back into action from the bench, while Moussa Sissoko is in contention to feature and Rose is out.
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Tottenham have won one of their last five Champions League games (1-0 v AC Milan in February 2011), drawing two and losing two.
Tottenham are the first team since Arsenal to play their Champions League home games at Wembley. The Gunners did it in the 1998/99 and 1999/00 group stages, winning only two of their six games (D1 L3).
This is Monaco’s seventh Champions League campaign. Only Lyon (14), Marseille and Paris SG (9) have more among French clubs.
Monaco have reached the knockout stages in five of their previous six Champions League campaigns, including the final in 2004 (0-3 v Porto).
Eight of Monaco’s last nine Champions League goals have been scored in the second half.
Monaco have also conceded only one goal in their last eight group games in the Champions League, against Benfica in November 2014.
Erik Lamela scored four goals in two games against Monaco in last season’s Europa League, including a first-half hat-trick at White Hart Lane.
Group E favourites Tottenham are 1.8 with niajabet to make a winning start to their Champions League campaign, with Monaco 4.84 outsiders while the draw is priced at 3.76
Isco will be sidelined for Real Madrid’s opening La Liga fixture at the Bernabeu when they host Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.
The 24-year-old midfielder has picked up a knock on his ankle and will not feature in the game live on Sky Sports 3, while manager Zinedine Zidane reiterated the importance of all members of his squad.
Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo – who won the UEFA’s Best Player in Europe award for the 2015/16 season on Thursday – also remain unavailable, while rumours continue to swirl about the future of James Rodriguez and Raphael Varane.
“He’s got some discomfort in his ankle. Last week he took a knock on his ankle and he’s still not recovered. He left the training session and he won’t be with us tomorrow,” he told a pre-match press conference.
“Anything can happen until the 31st. Nobody is coming in, that’s certain, but it’s possible some may leave. This is the squad I’ve got and I’m happy with the players I have.
“There are injured players and some who still haven’t come back yet. There’s good depth, the season will be tough and we’re going to need all of our players.
“I have 23 or 24 players and they’re all going to get a game. Cristiano and Karim aren’t playing and there are other players who have done well. When everyone is back, I’ll make the decisions about who will play, that’s not going to change. Naija and Bet
“I want to be clear, every player is important and it’s no surprise that they’re all here. If they’re playing for Real Madrid, it’s because they’re very good footballers.”
Gareth Bale made a goalscoring return to the squad in their opening La Liga fixture of the season – netting twice as Los Blancos beat Real Sociedad 3-0 last weekend – and Zidane is looking forward to being back on home turf.
“It’s exciting, it’s the first home game and we want to play as well as we can,” the former France international added.
“We started very well in La Liga at a difficult ground. Now we’re up against a very good opponent, we know all about their quality and we’re ready to play tomorrow. The fans will come to the ground and it’s great for us to see a full stadium.
“We’ve got another tough opponent who play some good football, but our plan is the same as ever. It’s our first game at home in front of our fans and we’ve got to come out the blocks well to try and get the three points.”
Celta Vigo lost their opening La Liga fixture to new boys Leganes at the Balaidos Stadium, with Marcelo Diaz, Claudio Beauvue and goalkeeper Ruben Blanco Veiga injured for the trip to the Bernabeu.
Watford fell to a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea last weekend and followed that up with an extra time defeat to Gillingham in the EFL Cup on Tuesday. The players are still adhereing to Mazzarri’s demands and play Arsenal at perhaps the wrong time.
While the Gunners have failed to win so far this season, they looked in far better shape against Leicester last weekend, holding the defending champions to a 0-0 draw. With Ozil and Giroud now fully fit and available, the duo should make a huge difference in the final third.
Watford’s poor start to the campaign, therefore, could continue with a home defeat this weekend.
Watford : Brice Dja Djedje is sidelined with a foot problem for Watford, while Isaac Success is a doubt for the Hornets ahead of Saturday’s welcome of Arsenal.
New signings Younes Kaboul and Roberto Pereyra are at Walter Mazzarri’s disposal, though may be eased into competitive action slowly following their arrivals.
Ben Watson is available having served his one-match ban.
Arsenal : Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil could both make their first league starts of the season having come off the bench against Leicester last weekend, with Theo Walcott and Francis Coquelin dropping to the bench.
Chelsea will look to secure their third win in a row on Tuesday when the Blues play Bristol Rovers in the League Cup at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have started off the campaign much better than how they did last season with wins in both their opening Premier League matches, against West Ham and Watford. NaijaBet.com
The finale for the Champions League play-off between AS Roma and FC Porto is set at Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night as both teams resume the tip tied at 1-1
The cagey first leg clash between these two sides at the Estadio Do Dragao finished in a 1-1 stalemate. An own goal from Porto defender Felipe granted the visiting Serie A side a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute. The hosts found result for the fight back in the second half as a penalty from Andre Silva in the 61st minute set an interesting second half clash at Rome on Tuesday evening. NaijaBet.com
Monaco host Villarreal in the second-leg of their Champions League play-off tie at the Stade Louis II on Tuesday trading as NaijaBet.com‘s heavy 13/10 favourites to seal their place in the group stage with a victory in front of their home support.
A look ahead to Tuesday night’s EFL Cup second round clash between Burton Albion and Liverpool at the Pirelli Stadium.
Liverpool’s begin their EFL Cup campaign on Tuesday night with an away trip to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium. Burton’s 2nd placed finish in League One last season earned them automatic promotion to the Championship for the first time in the club’s history. NaijaBet.com
Leicester and Arsenal will both be looking to recover from opening day defeats when they meet at the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening.
The defending Premier League champions suffered a shock 2-1 loss at newly-promoted Hull while Arsenal were beaten 4-3 at home by Liverpool.
The Foxes, however, have been boosted by the news in midweek that Riyad Mahrez has signed a new four-year deal
Last season’s PFA Player of the Year had been linked with a move to Arsenal, but has committed his future to Leicester. Naijabet
“We have very good players,” said manager Claudio Ranieri. “It’s normal for other managers to look at Leicester players. But we want to continue and stay together.”
There has been no such pick-me-up for Arsenal after their defeat to Liverpool, although manager Arsene Wenger says the club are “ready to spend” this month. “It’s not my money. It’s important to spend money the right way,” he said.
Arsenal beat Leicester both home and away in the league last season.
Team news
The Foxes have no new injury concerns and Robert Huth could return in defence after serving a one-game suspension.