Chelsea vs Liverpool: Jan Molby urges Reds to exploit opposition's weakness off the ball

Jan Molby believes Liverpool have the opportunity to put further pressure on Chelsea, who are struggling to live up to expectations. The 2014-15 Premier League winners are in 15th spot, 11 points behind Manchester City and Arsenal, who are split by goal difference in top spot.

Chelsea come into the game on the back of a League Cup loss to Stoke City on penalties, while Liverpool progressed into the quarter finals with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Manager Jurgen Klopp secured his first win in charge of the Reds and will be in upbeat mood when the duo face-off at Stamford Bridge on 31 October.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been under immense pressure to perform, with him sent off in the league game against West Ham United, which they lost 2-1 owing to a late winner from Andy Carroll. Nemanja Matic, who was also given his marching orders following two yellow cards, will be available for selection after the Serbian served his ban in the League Cup tie.

Ex-Liverpool star Molby believes it will be fruitful for the Reds to pressurise Chelsea off the ball, which has been their main weakness this season. Their back four has also not been as solid as they were in their title-winning campaign and this is Liverpool's chance to exact revenge for their 1-0 loss in the 2013-14 season, which ultimately cost them the title.

"Chelsea's weakness is without the ball so you have to ask questions of them and force their midfield players back and make them do things they don't want to do and put some pressure on that back four that looks totally out of position," Molby old the Liverpool Echo.

"We saw the impact that Andy Carroll had for West Ham when he came on and if Christian Benteke is fit he can do that. They normally look forward to coming up against those physical centre-forwards but I think they've lost their confidence."