Burnley

Burnley boss Sean Dyche speaking to Sky Sports: "Leeds were decent, they were strong, they got after it. They had an edge that we didn’t have. We had our moments but overall they played with an edge we couldn’t find.

"Leeds play so open, they’re so unpredictable at times, but we were pretty much going okay when we’d scored – we made a few moments today, but not enough.

"Not a million miles away from where we’ve been performance-wise. Your eyes don’t lie sometimes, they were hungrier, they had more desire."

On Matthew Lowton being struck by a bottle thrown by a Leeds fan: "Hopefully he’s alright, we don’t want to see that, I don’t want to over-egg that, it was a great atmosphere in the stadium, obviously we were just on the wrong end of that atmosphere there, but I don’t want to over-egg that."

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Rudiger, Alonso, Silva, Kante, Kovacic, Pulisic, Chalobah, Mount, Azpilicueta, Havertz.

Subs: Kepa, Jorginho, Saul, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Sarr, Vale, Hall.

Image source, BBC Sport

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Konate, Milner, Mane, Salah, Henderson, Jota, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold.

Subs: Adrian, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Beck, Williams, Morton, Pitaluga.

Brentford

Brentford manager Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I think it was a very tight game that could have gone both ways. It would have been deserved with a tight win for both sides. Maybe a draw would have been a fair result.

“I’d like to praise our mentality, it was very impressive. We were strong and disciplined in everything we did in terms of our structure. The second half could have gone both ways, but we kept the structure and got the goals.

“We looked tired, for whatever reason. I don’t know why. I think in that respect it’s even more impressive that we got the three points. My word before the game was ‘mentality’. We had to make two subs because of injuries – we’re struggling with injuries. It was just fantastic.

“I think these wins are the bigger wins. We didn’t play our best football today but managed still to win a tight game, which is impressive. Our structure and discipline in the defensive part of our work is very good. In the second half we managed to go a bit high, that created some problems as well.

“We want our wing-backs to go into the box, and he was there today. Big praise to Mads [Roerslev] that he’s stepping in and adding his level.

“We’ve played half our games in the Premier League. With the injuries we’ve had I think it’s incredible what we’ve done, but we want more of course. We need to stay massively focused.”

Here come the teams!

Everton

Everton boss Rafael Benitez, speaking to MOTD: "Not just the first, the second goal too. The way we conceded goals makes it very difficult for us. Then the team missed a penalty and it became more difficult for the confidence. They reacted but difficult when you makes mistakes like we did.

"I don't like to make excuses. The goals we conceded is the lack of focus in the first minute and then after you play under pressure. You could see the reaction was there but it is not enough because you still make mistakes.

"It is important not to concede not just here but any field. We have to focus and start with the intensity everyone is expecting. We cannot be conceding these types of goals.

"I am concerned that we have to improve, especially in defence. The team pushes and works hard and tries but we are lacking a little quality in the decisions.

"January is very complicated. We are trying to bring players who want to be here and we are making sure the players here work hard."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Some Liverpool and Chelsea fans will become the first supporters to legally stand at a top-flight football match in England for 28 years, after terraces were outlawed in 1994 in the wake of the Hillsborough tragedy.

Here's what Malcolm Clarke, Chair of the Football Supporters’ Association, had to say on BBC Radio 5 Live:

"It’s a significant day that people can now stand without breaking the law. I think virtually everybody is onside and we’ll celebrate that.

"Those who want to stand should have the choice to do so in safety and those who want to sit should be able to sit without having their view blocked.

"It’s easier to sing when standing I think and it does undoubtedly lead to a better atmosphere in the ground."

Brentford

Brentford defender Mads Roerslev, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I’m buzzing. It’s a really nice feeling. There’s not much else to say.

“I can’t brag about scoring a lot of goals. I’ve made a few assists but not in the Premier League. It’s so, so nice.

“Especially in the second half, Villa dominated quite a bit. We know we have to take some hits sometimes, but we rely on each other. Even though Villa had the ball a lot, I don’t think we were that much out of control.

“We do everything we can every week to pick up points.”

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was right when he said they lost at Leicester on Tuesday because they weren't at their usual level, but they have had a few of those performances recently.

The Reds have got away with it a few times and won anyway, but it has cost them when they have dropped points - and they cannot afford to do that if they want to win the league.

Chelsea's next Premier League game after this one is at Manchester City, so this is a very big moment in their season. They are not having a great time either, but I don't think they are quite done yet.

Both teams really need a win to kickstart their challenge, so that's why I am going with a draw. It's a result that will suit City far more.

We will see Liverpool and Chelsea back in form in the second half of the season, for sure. By then, though, City's lead at the top might be into double digits.

Prediction: 1-1

Lawro's full predictions v KAWALA guitarist Dan McCarthy.

Liverpool

Liverpool assistant Pepijn Lijnders to Sky Sports: "We come here with hunger. We come here to create a final. We don't have excuses. We want to make it a special game.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

If you’re in the top three you’re not going to get any sympathy whatsoever.

Chelsea have a lot of players out, but then you could say what about Ethan Ampadu, Armando Broja, Billy Gilmour? There’s a young lad called Conor Gallagher who’s doing quite well at Crystal Palace. They’ve got loads of players out on loan that they could bring back.

It’s a big challenge, but there a lot of teams in the league having bigger challenges with smaller quality squads.

Leeds United

Leeds midfielder Stuart Dallas speaking to MOTD: "Massive. We knew coming in to this game it was huge – people talk about six-pointers, we’re coming off the back of a few heavy defeats, so we’re delighted.

"I thought we dominated. We conceded – a great strike from the free-kick, but we got back into it after that."

On his goal: "I saw a wall of players coming towards me, so I tried to just bend it in – some go for you, sometimes they don’t. I hadn’t that much time to think about it and thankfully it came off.

"It’s massive, getting goals, we’ve been missing our main striker quite a bit. We’ve had a lot of issues throughout the festive period, we don’t use it as an excuse, but credit to the staff here for getting players out to play today.

"It was important today that we started the year well, it gives us something to build on. Hopefully we can get a few players back and don’t lose anyone else."

On Joe Gelhardt: "He’s a special talent and everybody here thinks very highly of him. He’s got to work hard, he’s a good kid, he’s grounded. He’s small, he’s well-built and he puts himself about."

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard, speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a really good first half. They had one chance in the first half, two in the second half. We’ve gifted them three chances and went on to lose the game.

“From what I’ve seen we were much the better team. We were the only team looking to play and create stuff, and we did create stuff. We conceded two poor goals, so it’s no surprise that we’re disappointed.

“We showed a lot of grit in the opening games. The second goal is a catalogue of errors. There’s no grit, no fight, no one showing the right aggression. It was too easy scoring against us today. We’ve conceded three chances and let in two goals.

“We can’t use [injuries and Covid] as an excuse. It’s on all of us to cope and survive. We should have picked up something from the game, that’s what we’re disappointed with.

“This league is brutal at the best of times. It’s going to be an opportunity for players to step up, but I’m not sure there were any positives today. I’m sick of saying it was a good performance [after a defeat].”

On potential January signings: “It’s not going to be wholesale, but there are opportunities to strengthen. I think every manager would say the same.”

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Jurgen Klopp won't be at the game, but the thing about Liverpool's system is that it stays the same - they know their jobs. You could make six or seven changes and it's fine, they know what they're doing.

The team they put out against AC Milan, they made loads of changes, it was a totally different team, but they were brilliant because they played the same way. I don't think the manager not being there is a big panic for them.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Graham Potter, speaking to BBC Sport: "Brilliant. It has been a fantastic week for us, seven points. We took the lead, deservedly so. We had to dig in and defend and then scored some good goals. Delighted for the players.

"We are in a decent moment. I think there's only three teams who have lost fewer games than us in the league.

"We are disappointed with the goals we conceded but delighted with the three points.

"It is not the end of the season, otherwise we would be very happy. It is 27 points we have now so we just continue to work. Do our best to try and win the next match.

"Alexis Mac Allister has had to be patient. He's had to support the team from the sides. I thought it was a fantastic performance from him."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel to Sky Sports on Romelu Lukaku: "The thing got too big and too noisy close to the match so I decided to preotect the preparation of the match and that is why he is out.

"Of course we have spoken, twice. I have spoken to the main players then we had to realise it is too close to the match. It is too big. We delayed the decision and while we are doing that we have to protect the preparation of the match.

"We have a big match of football to play. We need full focus which is hard enough to get without this decision but that is why he is not playing. For sure it was a difficult decision to take."

Is it a must-win game? "It's never a must-win game. We go for the win no matter what. This is what we do. We prepare to win football games. We respect the quality of the opponent. It's against Liverpool. You know what you get.

"This will not stop the next weeks. It's a must to give everything and to leave our heart out there. Then we have a chance for a result."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's game against Liverpool will also mark the return of standing to the English top flight after nearly 30 years.

Premier League clubs Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea and Championship side Cardiff have all had their applications to be part of a safe standing trial approved.

Since 1994, grounds in the first and second tiers of the English football pyramid have been required by law to be all-seaters.

Another reason not to lose.

Image source, Getty Images

The good news?

It should be exciting.

None of the previous 38 meetings in all competitions have ended goalless, with the last 0-0 coming at Stamford Bridge in February 2008.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa speaking to Sky Sports: "Yes it was very necessary to get the win and it was a relief for us to be able to get it.

"We dominated the game, created danger, they created not too much danger against us, but the game was very difficult to sustain. They managed to make it very difficult.

"I thought it was going to be difficult to go again [after Burnley’s goal] but we managed to get back and dominate the game again. We played a lot like how I want us to play."