FA CUP: Chelsea vs Liverpool, kick-off time, team news and head-to-head

Chelsea host Liverpool in the fifth round of the Cup on Tuesday night as both look to bounce back from disappointing weekend results.

The Blues were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth, while Liverpool suffered their first league defeat of the season in a shock 3-0 loss to Watford at Vicarage Road.

Both will now be taking on their FA Cup campaigns with renewed vigour as they look to rediscover their best form for the run in to the end of the season.

Liverpool have won their last three meetings with Chelsea, but they have not met in this competition since the 2012 final when the Blues lifted the trophy after a 2-1 win.

What time is Chelsea vs Liverpool?

The match kicks-off at 7.45pm on Tuesday 3 March at Stamford Bridge.

Team news

Chelsea: Lampard has dropped a strong hint that goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will return after being dropped for the last six matches.

At Bournemouth last weekend, Lampard persevered with three-man defence which made its return against Tottenham and Liverpool so it makes sense to assume that system will be used again, although it should be noted that Chelsea employed a back four in their two previous meetings with Jurgen Klopp’s side this season.

Michy Batshuayi scored in the win at Hull in the previous round and is expected to be drafted in to give Olivier Giroud a breather with Abraham’s return date still uncertain.

Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen (knock), N’Golo Kante (adductor), Tammy Abraham (ankle), Christian Pulisic (adductor) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring).

Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp is expected to ring the changes once again.

Youngsters Curtis Jones and Neco Williams are expected to get their latest chance to shine on the senior stage, though Harvey Elliott will miss out after being called up to the squad to face Benfica in the Uefa Youth League.

That is likely to force Klopp into using at least one first-team regular alongside fringe players such as Takumi Minamino, Adam Lallana and Joel Matip.

James Milner is also in line to return after missing the last two games with a muscle problem.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is the first FA Cup meeting between the clubs since the 2012 final, which Chelsea won 2-1.
• Chelsea have beaten the Reds in five of the past seven FA Cup encounters.
• This is their third meeting this season. Liverpool won 2-1 in the league at Stamford Bridge in September, a month after they lifted the Uefa Super Cup on penalties in Istanbul,

Chelsea

• Chelsea have won the FA Cup six times this century, the joint-most with Arsenal.
• This is the fifth straight season they have reached the FA Cup fifth round.
• The Blues have lost only one of their past 12 FA Cup ties (W8, D3).
• They have been beaten in just one of 12 home FA Cup fixtures (W10, D1).
• Chelsea have kept clean sheets in five of their past six FA Cup ties at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool

• Liverpool have lost two of their last three matches in all competitions.
• The Reds have led for only 34 minutes in four matches since returning from their winter break.
• They have reached the quarter-finals only twice since they last won the FA Cup since 2006.
• Liverpool have won just one of their past six FA Cup away matches (D2, L3).
• They have scored in their past 15 away FA Cup games since a 1-0 loss at Manchester United in 2011.

Predicted lineups

Chelsea XI (3-4-3): Kepa, Tomori, Rudiger, Zouma; James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro​

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Adrian; Williams, Lovren, Matip, Milner; Lallana, Chirivella, Jones; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Origi