Liverpool and Chelsea come into this Super Cup final on the back of very different opening weekends to the Premier League season.
Liverpool thrashed Norwich City 4-1 at Anfield, looking sharp in attack as Mohamed Salah scored twice, while Chelsea were beaten 4-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford.
About Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in North West England, with an estimated population of 491,500. Its metropolitan area is the fifth-largest in the UK, with a population of 2.24 million in 2011. The local authority is Liverpool City Council, the most populous local government district in the metropolitan county of Merseyside and the largest in the Liverpool City Region.
Liverpool is on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, and historically lay within the ancient hundred of West Derby in the southwest of the county of Lancashire. It became a borough in 1207 and a city in 1880. In 1889, it became a county borough independent of Lancashire. Its growth as a major port was paralleled by the expansion of the city throughout the Industrial Revolution. Along with handling general cargo, freight, and raw materials such as coal and cotton, the city merchants were involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In the 19th century, it was a major port of departure for Irish and English emigrants to North America. Liverpool was home to both the Cunard and White Star Line, and was the port of registry of the ocean liner RMS Titanic, the RMS Lusitania, RMS Queen Mary, and RMS Olympic.
Liverpool is noted for its culture, architecture, and transport links. It is closely associated with the arts, particularly music, and the popularity of the Beatles (who are regarded as the most influential band in history) contributed to the city’s status as a tourist destination. Since then, the city has continued to produce hundreds of notable musical acts—musicians from Liverpool have produced 56 No. 1 singles, more than any other city in the world. Liverpool also has a long-standing reputation as the origin of countless actors and actresses, artists, comedians, journalists, novelists, poets, and sportspeople. The city has the second-highest number of art galleries, national museums, and listed buildings in the United Kingdom, with only London having more. In sports, it is best known for being the home of Premier League football clubs Liverpool and Everton; matches between the two are known as the Merseyside derby. The Grand National horse race takes place annually at Aintree Racecourse.
Several areas of the city centre were granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 2004. The city celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2007, and was named the 2008 European Capital of Culture together with the Norwegian city of Stavanger. The Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City includes the Pier Head, Albert Dock, and William Brown Street. Liverpool’s status as a port city has attracted a diverse population, which was historically drawn from a wide range of cultures and religions, particularly from Ireland and Wales. The city is also home to the oldest black community in the UK and the oldest Chinese community in Europe.
Natives and residents of the city of Liverpool are referred to formally as Liverpudlians, but most often as Scousers, a reference to “scouse”, a form of stew. The word “Scouse” has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect.
Liverpool vs Chelsea predicted line-ups: What time is the Super Cup, what channel, team news, odds and more
About Chelsea
Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to:
Frank Lampard’s young side looked out of their depth at times and will have to learn quickly if they are to beat the European champions in Istanbul on Wednesday night.
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Liverpool vs Chelsea predicted line-ups: What time is the Super Cup, what channel, team news, odds and more
N’golo Kante picked up a slight injury as he came off the bench for the Blues and is set to be assessed ahead of the game, meaning the dual-anchor of Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic could continue at the base of midfield.
Willian, Antonio Rudiger, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi all remain unavailable.
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1/21 Our Premier League table
The Independent’s highly accurate pound-for-pound power rankings…
Getty Images
2/21 1. Brighton
Graham Potter made the dream start in his first game in charge, convincingly beating Watford 3-0 to bring Brighton a rare win on the road for a historically woeful away side. It is early days, but the signs suggest Brighton’s bold decision to replace Chris Hughton could pay dividends.
Action Images via Reuters
3/21 2. Burnley
Burnley thrashed Southampton with Ashley Barnes striking twice and looked a far cry from the side which struggled to get going for much of last season. Barnes’ celebration aside, Burnley were an enjoyable watch.
Getty
4/21 3. Manchester City
Even for City’s high standards this was impressive, crushing West Ham – a side tipped to impress this season – away from home as Raheem Sterling racked up a hat-trick. They’re going to be quite good again, we think.
Reuters
5/21 4. Manchester United
United’s new signings bedded in well as they swatted aside Chelsea with impressive defensive displays from Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and a debut goal for Daniel James. Added points for beating a top-six rival.
Reuters
6/21 5. Sheffield United
The Blades came up from the Championship with low expectations but put on a good showing at an established top-flight club in Bournemouth, and took away a precious point for their efforts.
REUTERS
7/21 6. Liverpool
Liverpool looked typically impressive going forwards and scored four times, although there were some alarming moments for last season’s best defence and other clubs will take encouragement from the chances Norwich created.
Getty
8/21 7. Arsenal
This was far from a vintage display by Arsenal as they edged out Newcastle 1-0, but earning three points away from home was important and their new signings like Nicolas Pepe showed promising signs.
Action Images via Reuters
9/21 8. Crystal Palace
After such a fraught summer transfer window, Roy Hodgson would have been pleased to get back to football, and a point against a strong Everton side was a reasonable start.
REUTERS
10/21 9. Tottenham
Spurs beat Aston Villa 3-1 but the scoreline didn’t tell the story of a game in which they struggled for rhythm. Only Harry Kane’s late heroics prevented an early stumble.
AFP/Getty
11/21 10. Wolves
A goalless draw at Leicester, who many have tipped to be the best of the rest this season, was a solid start for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
Getty
12/21 11. Aston Villa
For 60 minutes or so it was looking like the perfect day for Villa until they eventually tired and Spurs’ strengths told. Even so, this was a good display by the newly promoted side.
Getty Images
13/21 12. Norwich
Strangely for a side hammered by Liverpool, there were plenty of positives to take from a much-improved second half, and Norwich showed enough to suggest they will not go down without a fight this season.
Action Images via Reuters
14/21 13. Bournemouth
The Cherries would have targetted a win at home to Sheffield United to kickstart their campaign and the manner of the draw – conceding a late equaliser – would have left a bitter taste.
AFP/Getty Images
15/21 14. Leicester City
The Foxes dominated the ball but struggled to create many clear-cut chances as they drew with Wolves at the King Power.
Leicester City via Getty Images
16/21 15. Everton
There is pressure on Marco Silva to deliver this season after investment in the squad over the summer and a goalless draw with Crystal Palace was a disappointing start.
Getty Images
17/21 16. Newcastle
Steve Bruce’s side competed admirably with Arsenal for much of the game and new signing Joelinton looked busy, but a row with his substitutes over tactical instructions took away from the performance on the pitch and suggests problems ahead.
Action Images via Reuters
18/21 17. Chelsea
Even for the low expectations surrounding Chelsea this season after the departure of Eden Hazard and the arrival of the inexperienced Frank Lampard, getting thumped 4-0 was not pretty, even if the Blues played well for much of the first half.
Getty
19/21 18. West Ham
It doesn’t get much more difficult than facing Manchester City on the opening day, but even so, it is hard to take any positives from such a thrashing.
REUTERS
20/21 19. Southampton
Ralph Hasenhuttl had an instant impact last season but tailed off towards the end of the campaign, and the started this term with a beating by Burnley.
Getty Images
21/21 20. Watford
Javi Gracia was gracious in defeat but at a loss to explain how his side were so well beaten by Brighton. Time will tell whether it was down to the brilliance of the visitors, the flimsiness of Watford or a bit of both.
Action Images via Reuters
1/21 Our Premier League table
The Independent’s highly accurate pound-for-pound power rankings…
Getty Images
2/21 1. Brighton
Graham Potter made the dream start in his first game in charge, convincingly beating Watford 3-0 to bring Brighton a rare win on the road for a historically woeful away side. It is early days, but the signs suggest Brighton’s bold decision to replace Chris Hughton could pay dividends.
Action Images via Reuters
3/21 2. Burnley
Burnley thrashed Southampton with Ashley Barnes striking twice and looked a far cry from the side which struggled to get going for much of last season. Barnes’ celebration aside, Burnley were an enjoyable watch.
Getty
4/21 3. Manchester City
Even for City’s high standards this was impressive, crushing West Ham – a side tipped to impress this season – away from home as Raheem Sterling racked up a hat-trick. They’re going to be quite good again, we think.
Reuters
5/21 4. Manchester United
United’s new signings bedded in well as they swatted aside Chelsea with impressive defensive displays from Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and a debut goal for Daniel James. Added points for beating a top-six rival.
Reuters
6/21 5. Sheffield United
The Blades came up from the Championship with low expectations but put on a good showing at an established top-flight club in Bournemouth, and took away a precious point for their efforts.
REUTERS
7/21 6. Liverpool
Liverpool looked typically impressive going forwards and scored four times, although there were some alarming moments for last season’s best defence and other clubs will take encouragement from the chances Norwich created.
Getty
8/21 7. Arsenal
This was far from a vintage display by Arsenal as they edged out Newcastle 1-0, but earning three points away from home was important and their new signings like Nicolas Pepe showed promising signs.
Action Images via Reuters
9/21 8. Crystal Palace
After such a fraught summer transfer window, Roy Hodgson would have been pleased to get back to football, and a point against a strong Everton side was a reasonable start.
REUTERS
10/21 9. Tottenham
Spurs beat Aston Villa 3-1 but the scoreline didn’t tell the story of a game in which they struggled for rhythm. Only Harry Kane’s late heroics prevented an early stumble.
AFP/Getty
11/21 10. Wolves
A goalless draw at Leicester, who many have tipped to be the best of the rest this season, was a solid start for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
Getty
12/21 11. Aston Villa
For 60 minutes or so it was looking like the perfect day for Villa until they eventually tired and Spurs’ strengths told. Even so, this was a good display by the newly promoted side.
Getty Images
13/21 12. Norwich
Strangely for a side hammered by Liverpool, there were plenty of positives to take from a much-improved second half, and Norwich showed enough to suggest they will not go down without a fight this season.
Action Images via Reuters
14/21 13. Bournemouth
The Cherries would have targetted a win at home to Sheffield United to kickstart their campaign and the manner of the draw – conceding a late equaliser – would have left a bitter taste.
AFP/Getty Images
15/21 14. Leicester City
The Foxes dominated the ball but struggled to create many clear-cut chances as they drew with Wolves at the King Power.
Leicester City via Getty Images
16/21 15. Everton
There is pressure on Marco Silva to deliver this season after investment in the squad over the summer and a goalless draw with Crystal Palace was a disappointing start.
Getty Images
17/21 16. Newcastle
Steve Bruce’s side competed admirably with Arsenal for much of the game and new signing Joelinton looked busy, but a row with his substitutes over tactical instructions took away from the performance on the pitch and suggests problems ahead.
Action Images via Reuters
18/21 17. Chelsea
Even for the low expectations surrounding Chelsea this season after the departure of Eden Hazard and the arrival of the inexperienced Frank Lampard, getting thumped 4-0 was not pretty, even if the Blues played well for much of the first half.
Getty
19/21 18. West Ham
It doesn’t get much more difficult than facing Manchester City on the opening day, but even so, it is hard to take any positives from such a thrashing.
REUTERS
20/21 19. Southampton
Ralph Hasenhuttl had an instant impact last season but tailed off towards the end of the campaign, and the started this term with a beating by Burnley.
Getty Images
21/21 20. Watford
Javi Gracia was gracious in defeat but at a loss to explain how his side were so well beaten by Brighton. Time will tell whether it was down to the brilliance of the visitors, the flimsiness of Watford or a bit of both.
Action Images via Reuters
For Jurgen Klopp the only fresh concern is goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who injured his calf against Norwich and will miss the next few weeks. Adrian will play in goal with the former Preston veteran Andy Lonergan set to deputise after signing a short-term contract.
Sadio Mane is expected to return to the starting line-up after starting on the bench against Norwich, while there is the possibility of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner or Naby Keita coming into midfield.
Predicted line-ups
Liverpool: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Keita, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson; Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Barkley, Pulisic; Giroud.
Odds (via oddschecker)
Liverpool 11/17
Chelsea 51/10
What time does it start?
The game kicks off at 8pm BST.
What channel is it on and how can I watch online?
The match will be shown on BT Sport 2 in the UK, and you can watch it on the BT Sport app.