Chelsea and Liverpool have built a modern rivalry. From late-season clashes for Champions League football to the bitter relationship between Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez, there is a consistent undertone to these games. The games are often intense and usually exciting, and this season their encounters are particularly relevant at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool have suffered a painful start to 2017, which was topped off by their EFL Cup semi-final elimination at the hands of Southampton and FA Cup exit at home to Wolves. Having dropped from leaders of the chasing pack into the congested top four battle, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have looked a shadow of themselves since the turn of the New Year. Peripheral problems with Joel Matip have been symbolic of their downfall, while the absence of Sadio Mane has been immensely hurtful.

Matches do not come much harder than Chelsea. This is the moment that Liverpool must turn their 2017 around if they still harbour any ambitions of winning the title this season.

What can Chelsea expect from Liverpool? What can Conte do to keep the Blues on form? Here are THREE things that he must consider…

3 on 3

Chelsea’s back three has been solid for the most part, yet Liverpool – who have been the Premier League’s most potent attacking unit this season – offer a greater challenge. Their attacking players, although short of form in part, will interchange, taking turns between dropping off between the lines and running into space behind the defence.

Liverpool’s front three functions between the width of the box, which will force a direct matchup against Chelsea’s three central defenders, Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill and David Luiz. Challenging Cahill’s ability to defend against direct dribbling and potentially making Luiz mark an attacker rather than sweep from a deeper position will test Chelsea in a different manner to most other teams.

Feeling Cesc-y

Many a pundit will say not to change a winning formula, but Chelsea’s performances of late have declined on the most part. Liverpool will set up with three central midfielders against the Blues and Chelsea, in the form of Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante, could be overloaded.

The clearest option to solve this is to switch from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2 and include Cesc Fabregas in the centre of the park. Although perhaps an unlikely solution for Conte, it might be a necessity for Chelsea to avoid being dominated in the middle third.

Alternatively, Conte may set his side up to play a more direct build-up game. This would enable the Blues to play through Liverpool’s press.

Victor Moses vs. James Milner

As important as Victor Moses is to providing width for Chelsea, James Milner is the same for Liverpool. Both are charged with holding their position out on the flank to make sure the more gifted players in the side do not get swarmed centrally.

The contest will be defining in the match. If Moses is pinned back, as he was during the first half of the match with Tottenham earlier in the season, Chelsea will become one-dimensional in possession and risk being stuck in their own third. Milner, meanwhile, could be forced into a deeper position that would make one of Liverpool’s forwards drift into a wing role.