PREVIEW: Chelsea vs Liverpool (Hatua ya 16 Kombe la FA)

Mchezo wa leo wa hatua ya 16 ya Kombe la FA baina ya Chelsea na Liverpool utachezwa katika dimba la Stamford Bridge. 

Miamba hii ya soka inakutana kwa mara ya kwanza katika Kombe la FA tangu ilipokutana katika fainali ya mwaka 2012 ambayo Chelsea ilishinda kwa mabao 2-1. Chelsea imeshinda michezo mitano iliyopita kati ya saba dhidi ya Liverpool. Kwa msimu huu zinakutana kwa mara ya tatu. 

Mara ya kwanza ilikuwa mwezi Septemba 2019 ambapo Liverpool ilishinda kwa mabao 2-1 hapo Stamford Bridge ukiwa ni mwezi mmoja baada ya kunyakua taji la UEFA Super Cup  kwa mikwaju ya penati jijini Istanbul.

Chelsea itamkosa mshambuliaji wake Tammy Abraham kutokana a majeruhi ya kifundo cha mguu kinachoendelea kumtesa nyota huyo. Aidha Blues wataendelea kuikosa huduma ya N'Golo Kante na Christian Pulisic, 

Kwa upande wake Liverpool watawajumuisha Joe Gomez na James Milner ambao hawakucheza katika mchezo uliopita wakipoteza kwa kichapo cha mabao 3-0 kutoka Watford. Pia Reds watawakosa Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri na Nathaniel Clyde 

Chelsea

Chelsea have won the FA Cup six times this century, the joint-most with Arsenal.

This is the fifth straight season they have reached the FA Cup fifth round.

The Blues have lost only one of their past 12 FA Cup ties (W8, D3).

They have been beaten in just one of 12 home FA Cup fixtures (W10, D1).

Chelsea have kept clean sheets in five of their past six FA Cup ties at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool

Liverpool have lost two of their last three matches in all competitions.

The Reds have led for only 34 minutes in four matches since returning from their winter break.

They have reached the quarter-finals only twice since they last won the FA Cup since 2006.

Liverpool have won just one of their past six FA Cup away matches (D2, L3).

They have scored in their past 15 away FA Cup games since a 1-0 loss at Manchester United in 2011.