Liverpool vs. Chelsea has grown in importance for Jurgen Klopp and his Reds with each passing day. With three losses at Anfield in a week, the Merseysiders are on the verge of seeing a season that looked like it might hold an EFL Cup final at Wembley and a title challenge descend into one that will see them nervously battling for a top four finish. Although many saw that as the ceiling before a ball was kicked this term, it does feel rather flat now given the swashbuckling football played through the autumn months.

A Chelsea victory would see them build a massive 13-point advantage over Klopp’s team, but should the German’s troops win, there’s every chance the gap could subside over the coming week, with the Blues also facing a touch task vs. Arsenal on Saturday. Ten points to, potentially, four would be a huge swing.

With all of this in mind: How can Liverpool get the result they need? Our how-to-guide reveals all…

Formation: 4-3-3

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Now’s not the time for tinkering and with a host of key players left out for the FA Cup Fourth Round loss to Wolves at Anfield, Klopp has to go as strong as possible. Simon Mignolet will take up his place between the sticks after a week-and-a-bit off, but Nathaniel Clyne may miss out due to his lingering injury, which will open the door for Trent Alexander-Arnold - hinted at by Connor Randall’s shock start vs. Wolves. At centre-back, Joel Matip is finally back available and fully-fit, so the Cameroonian will link up with Dejan Lovren to re-form the partnership that looked so impressive before the former’s injury. With Alberto Moreno having not done enough in his recent outings, James Milner is in line to continue at left-back.

Midfield is where it gets interesting, and Klopp needs to go back to the formula that worked so well earlier in the campaign: Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana. The trio’s skillsets compliment one another’s and it’s been proven that Emre Can over Lallana makes the Liverpool engine room too ponderous.

Up front, Sadio Mane may have been jetted back early from his much talked about Africa Cup of Nations stint but the ex-Southampton man is unlikely to be thrust straight into the XI given his recent absence. However, Klopp has all of his other troops to pick from. With Lallana deeper in this team, he’ll need the right-flank position filled and the running of Divock Origi may be favourable given Daniel Sturridge’s fall from grace. Keeping Roberto Firmino is essential given that his movement and goalscoring touch vs. Swansea has been just about the only positive in the past few weeks, while Philippe Coutinho will be looked to to provide spark from the left-flank.

Key man: Sadio Mane

Even though Mane is unlikely to make the starting XI, the Senegalese ace will surely be called up at some point. The extent to which the Reds have missed the winger has been slightly overblown, but his importance should not be overlooked and if Klopp’s team can keep it tight until mid-way through the second-half, his pace up against Marcos Alonso could present Antonio Conte’s team with some serious problems.

He remains Liverpool’s top scorer in the league and Kopites will be desperate to see the Firmino, Coutinho and Mane triumvirate back together for the first time since the 2-0 win over Sunderland in early December.

Key battle: Philippe Coutinho vs. Victor Moses

Moses may have been praised this season, but rarely has the converted right wing-back come up against a player of Coutinho’s quality. The Brazilian hasn’t been at his very best since his return from injury, but he has more than enough about him to come to the fore in a big game, and Moses will need to be wary of the threat he poses. The Chelsea man may have to restrict his runs forward for fear of the playmaker finding some space, while he’ll also need to be wary of allowing him to drift inside and onto his favoured right foot.

The threat is not entirely one-way, though, so Coutinho will need to help James Milner when dealing with the tandem threat of Pedro and Moses. The Reds ace is a hard-working player, however, which Klopp clearly appreciates.

Chelsea dangerman: Diego Costa

It may seem obvious, but it’s obvious for a reason: Costa is a threat. The Spaniard is the league’s joint-top scorer with 15 goals and is known as a player for the big occasions - this is certainly a big game. Costa’s potent threat in the box means that he can influence games in which he’s not fully firing, so Matip and Lovren will need to be at their very best to deal with him.

Lovren, even though he has his critics, performed admirably in Liverpool’s last big game, shackling Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero at Anfield. Matip was unavailable that day, and the Cameroonian’s aerial prowess may also be of use against the physically imposing Chelsea striker.