Liverpool vs Chelsea: Premier League clash at Anfield previewed
Chelsea will come up against a more concentrated Virgil van Dijk and Alisson in tonight's visit to newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool, says Reds legend Steve Nicol. Both Van Dijk and Alisson were guilty of uncharacteristic errors in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal last week.
The pair had been almost exemplary up until that point in a record-breaking season for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Liverpool players will finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy following the match against Chelsea at Anfield.
But the game itself is far more important for the Blues' hopes of Champions League qualification.
Frank Lampard's side currently sit third in the table with two games of the season remaining, one point ahead of fourth-placed Leicester and Manchester United in fifth.
Chelsea news: Steve Nicol has warned Chelsea about Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Alisson (Image: ESPN/GETTY)
But Nicol says Chelsea should not expect an under-par Liverpool performance, especially from Van Dijk and Alisson.
Nicol said on ESPN FC: "Unfortunately for Chelsea two of Liverpool's most important players had an absolute stinker [against Arsenal], in Van Dijk and Alisson, so the only thing you know is the both of them will be about as concentrated as possible to be and they're going to be on top of everyone around them to make sure that they are as well.
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Lampard has exceeded some expectations for his first campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge.
But the former midfielder knows how vital it is for his side to finish in the top four.
Lampard said: "The Champions League is massively important for Chelsea, not just in terms of the prestige and what it means, but if you are on the world stage like Chelsea have been, you want to compete at the highest level, and you want to attract players to the highest level.
"It obviously generates money to the club. You understand why there is such intense scrutiny on who finishes in the top four.
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Chelsea news: Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have been immense for Liverpool this season (Image: GETTY)
"Now it becomes an accomplishment in itself. We want to move further than that so we look upwards in the Premier League, but trying to get in the Champions League has to be a huge aim for Chelsea, even with the way this year has gone.
"It would be a big achievement for the players.
"We had a squad that included players coming back from loan this year, making Premier League debuts and experiencing the marathon that is a Premier League season, and we lost probably the best player in the league."
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