Liverpool host Premier League leaders Chelsea tomorrow night (8pm kick-off) in a match that will have a huge bearing on the title race.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have struggled since the turn of the year, and have won just one of their seven matches in 2017, which has seen them go out of both the League Cup and FA Cup, as well as fall off the pace in the Premier League.

Their 3-2 defeat to Swansea last time out saw them fall ten points adrift of Antonio Conte’s Blues, but Klopp’s men will know that victory tomorrow at Anfield will put them right back in the race.

However, they come up against the league leaders who have won 15 of their last 16 Premier League matches, and opened up an eight-point lead at the top courtesy of a 2-0 win at Hull in their last league match.

The Blues may have lost the reverse fixture 2-1 at Stamford Bridge back in September, but they are a different proposition now, and with a home game against Arsenal to come on Saturday, Conte’s side will know that this week could be pivotal in their quest to regain the Premier League title.

With the build-up well underway to tomorrow’s encounter, we’ve analysed the THREE key battles which could determine the outcome at Anfield…

David Luiz vs Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho’s return from injury has been the only bright spark in a so far disappointing 2017 for Liverpool, and they’ll look to their playmaker against leaders Chelsea on Tuesday.

The Brazilian international scored five goals and assisted five others in 13 Premier League appearances prior to injuring his ankle in the 2-0 win over Sunderland back in November and, although he’s yet to add to that tally since returning, it’s clear that he’s beginning to get back to match fitness.

It’s only a matter of time before a quality player like Coutinho returns to those high standards, and it could be against Chelsea on Tuesday where he hits those heights, so it’ll be up to centre-back David Luiz to keep his compatriot quiet at Anfield.

The 29-year-old has been absolutely superb since returning to Stamford Bridge last summer, and his displays at the back have propelled him from an ill-disciplined centre-half to a reliable one.

And he’ll have to keep his discipline again on Tuesday, as Coutinho is likely to drift into wide positions and switch with Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana in the front three in a bid to stretch the back three and create openings.

However, it’ll be up to Luiz to keep the defensive shape rigid and difficult for Liverpool, who have struggled in recent weeks with their forward play, so not giving Coutinho space and time will be crucial for the league leaders on Tuesday.

Jordan Henderson vs N’Golo Kante

Jordan Henderson ran the show when these two sides met back in September, and topped it off with a spectacular strike in a 2-1 win for Klopp’s men at Stamford Bridge.

However, Chelsea were still finding their way under new boss Conte back then and are a completely different proposition now, which will make it more difficult for the England international to dominate the midfield once again.

Especially as he’ll come up against France’s N’Golo Kante on Tuesday, a player who has continued the form that helped Leicester win the title last season at Chelsea this term.

The 25-year-old is arguably the best in the Premier League at breaking play up in the midfield through tackles and interceptions, while also keeping things simple when on the ball and looking to go forward more than before.

Nonetheless, Kante struggled to do what he does best against the Reds last time out such was Henderson’s energy on the other side, yet you could argue that as Kante has improved since then, Henderson has tailed off a bit in recent weeks.

Regardless, this battle will be crucial in determining the outcome of Tuesday’s match.

Joel Matip vs Diego Costa

Liverpool have been very suspect at the back for much of this Premier League season, but it’s been none more so evident than in recent weeks.

Klopp’s men shipped three against a blunt Swansea side last time out that, prior to the 3-2 win at Anfield, had scored just 23 times in the league, before conceding twice against Championship side Wolves last weekend, albeit he didn’t play his strongest side.

Nonetheless, they recent struggles have epitomised their defensive concerns this term, yet the returning Joel Matip will give them a huge boost on Tuesday, especially as he’ll come up against one of the Premier League’s top-scorers in Diego Costa.

The Spanish striker has scored 15 goals in just 20 Premier League starts for Chelsea, and returned to the side in the win over Hull to great effect, netting the opener and producing a committed display against the Tigers to end any speculation surrounding a possible exit from Stamford Bridge.

However, Liverpool’s Matip has been excellent since arriving at the club in the summer, and there’s no surprise that they’ve struggled in his absence over the last few weeks.

Matip will have to be at his best to thwart and frustrate Costa, but if he can manage to do that, then the Reds will fancy their chances of victory on Tuesday night.