Liverpool winger Roberto Firmino (L) celebrates his goal against Watford with teammate Sheyi Ojo. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending team Liverpool FC (16-10-10, 58 points) will look to steal a Europa League berth for next season as they clash with dethroned champions Chelsea FC (12-12-12, 48 points) at the Anfield this Wednesday, May 11th for the teams' penultimate fixture in the 2015-2016 Premier League season.
Liverpool is at the eighth spot of the current English top flight table, only a point behind seventh-placed squad West Ham United and two points below the final Europa League qualifying slot currently held by Southampton. With two games left in the Reds' season, they still have a chance to snag a Europa League berth if they can win all of their remaining matches.
Head coach Jürgen Klopp's squad is coming off a 2-0 thrashing of middling club Watford FC also at their home ground of Anfield last Sunday, as reported by BBC Sport.
Welsh midfielder Joe Allen scored the opening goal of the match at the 35th minute before Brazilian winger Roberto Firmino netted the second one in the second half at the 76th to complete Liverpool's two-goal haul.
The win snapped the Reds' two-game winless skid and gave them crucial three points in the overall standings, enough to still be in contention for the UEFA Europa League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea widened the gap between them and Liverpool to 10 points after they dropped a disappointing 2-3 decision to bottom three club Sunderland AFC at the Stadium of Light last Saturday, via SkySports.
The Blues opened the scoring at the 14th minute with a right-footed shot from Spanish striker Diego Costa from only six yards out. Sunderland midfielder Wahbi Khazri leveled the count four minutes before halftime, but Chelsea managed to grab the lead once again as Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic slotted one under goalkeeper Vito Mannone in the first half injury time.
It looked like a bounce back win for Guus Hiddink's side, but the Black Cats were able to net two goals in the second half, courtesy of strikes at the 67th and 70th minutes by Fabio forwards Borini and Jermain Defoe, to hand the Pensioners their fourth third loss in six outings.
The predicted result is a tough 2-1 win for Liverpool.
Liverpool starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Mignolet; Flanagan, Skrtel, Lucas, Moreno; Allen, Stewart; Ojo, Ibe, Coutinho; Benteke
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa
