Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane believes Levi Colwill will be an important player for the Blues in the coming weeks.

Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during pre-season and made his first appearance of the 2025-26 campaign during Chelsea's defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday.

The centre-back, who played 35 Premier League games last term, came on as a substitute at half-time during a poor display at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have lost each of their last six Premier League games – only once in their league history have they ever lost seven in a row, doing so in November/December 1952.

The Blues face Liverpool next as they look to reignite their European push, while an FA Cup final against Manchester City awaits on May 16, and McFarlane expects a strong impact from Colwill.

"It's one of the only positives [from the Forest game]," said McFarlane on Colwill's return.

"It's great to have Levi back, and we know what he brings to this team. We're hoping he can help us moving forward.

"He was ready for minutes. We thought it was the right time based on how we felt the second half was going to go – we felt that he could help us."

Liverpool, meanwhile, suffered a 3-2 defeat to rivals Manchester United last weekend after Kobbie Mainoo's winner at Old Trafford.

Liverpool have conceded two or more goals in 16 different Premier League matches this season – only in 2012-13 have they done so more often in a campaign (17 games).

The Reds are yet to secure their place in next season's Champions League, with six points separating them from sixth-place Bournemouth, though Arne Slot believes Liverpool will get over the line.

"I wouldn't say concerned is the right word, but I'm completely aware of the fact that we need three points," said Slot.

"We knew before the [United] game we had four chances to pick up three points to qualify for the Champions League. Now there are three chances left."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Dominik Szoboszlai

No Liverpool player has more direct goal contributions than Dominik Szoboszlai in all competitions this season (13 goals, 10 assists).

Heis the first Reds midfielder to have both 10+ goals and 10+ assists in a season since Steven Gerrard in 2013-14 (14 goals, 14 assists).

Chelsea – Joao Pedro

Joao Pedro is Chelsea's top scorer in both the league (15) and all competitions (20) this season.

He has been directly involved in seven of the Blues’ last nine Premier League goals, scoring six and assisting one.

MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN

Following their 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in October, Chelsea are looking to complete the league double over Liverpool for the first time since 2013-14.

Liverpool have lost their last two Premier League games against Chelsea, as many as they had in their previous 20 (W8 D10). They last lost three in a row against the Blues between December 2013 and November 2014.

However, Chelsea have won just one of their last 10 Premier League away games against Liverpool (D5 L4), a 1-0 victory in March 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues have also conceded in each of their last 13 league games, shipping three goals in four of their last five. They last had a longer run without a league clean sheet between March and August 1991 (17).

Liverpool have endured a poor season themselves, losing 11 Premier League matches this season, their most since the 2014-15 campaign under Brendan Rodgers, when they lost 12.

The Reds have also lost 18 in all competitions, last losing more in 2009-10 (19).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Liverpool – 55.4%

Draw – 23%

Chelsea – 21.6%