Thomas Tuchel could axe under-fire Romelu Lukaku for Chelsea vs Liverpool

Thomas Tuchel is considering dropping Romelu Lukaku from his starting line-up to face Liverpool in a crunch Premier League game today.

Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this afternoon with both teams desperately needing a win to ensure Manchester City’s lead at the top isn’t extended once again.

City are 11 points clear of second-placed Chelsea and 12 ahead of Liverpool in third after theirdramatic 2-1 win over Arsenalon Saturday.

Lukaku has scored in his last two Premier League games and would normally be a near certainty to start.

However, the airing of an interview in which heclaimed he is “not happy” with his situationat Chelsea, just six months after joining the club in a £97million move from Inter Milan, has angered his manager.

Tuchel is “livid” with the club’s record signing and may punish him by dropping him, or even leaving him out entirely, against Liverpool, according toThe Guardian.

Kai Havertz is back available following a bout of Covid-19 and could replace him in the starting line-up for the 4.30pm kick-off.

"To be honest I don't like it because it's noise we don't need. We need a calm environment and focus and it does not help,”Tuchel admitted in his pre-match press conference.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Thomas Tuchel drop Romelu Lukaku for today's game? Comment below.

"I don't feel him unhappy. I feel the exact opposite. If you asked me yesterday morning I would say that he is absolutely fine. That's why it's a surprise but I am the wrong person to ask.

"We can take the time to try to understand what is going on because it does not reflect the daily work, the daily attitude, the daily behaviour Romelu shows here."

He added: "It is not necessary to always be in harmony to be successful. You don't have to hug each other and love each other every single day. Sometimes it is good to be on the edge.”

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Lukaku has scored seven goals in 18 appearances for Chelsea so far this season.

Three of those have come in his last four matches, with his strike against Brighton cancelled out by Danny Welbeck’s injury-time goal in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.

“Physically I am fine,” Lukaku told Sky Italia in an interview recorded three weeks ago.

“But I am not happy with the situation at Chelsea. Tuchel has chosen to play with another system.

“I won’t give up. I will be professional. I am not happy with the situation but I am professional and I can’t give up now.”

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