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Chelsea favourite Gianfranco Zola believes Antonio Conte must tweak his tactics in order to play Eden Hazard in his preferred position behind the main striker. The Belgium international has been forced to play in a false nine position in Alvaro Morata's injury absence, and this has restricted his chances of influencing play from the wider positions.

In a report covered by Goal.com, Zola urged Conte to utilise Hazard in an attacking midfield role where he can interact with the main centre-forward, he said: "When Hazard plays deeper, it allows him to come off the pressure and run at players. It’s perfect for him.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has claimed that the blues may need to take each game as they come after the goalless draw with Everton on Saturday. It was a hugely disappointing result for the defending champions, who already look like out of the title race. However, this result may have just confirmed that this position as Chelsea are now an incredible 16 points behind Manchester City, who were unable to get a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth. After the recent disappointment against West Ham, Conte claimed that Chelsea’s hopes of winning the title may have effectively gone.

Now, the manager is now under major pressure in order to avoid the club from dropping out of the top four. After having already missed out on the Champions League last season, the blues will want to retain this top-level European football at any cost. Chelsea were not disappointing against Everton by any stretch of the imagination, as the team had 11 players having a pop at goal while the team also recorded 25 efforts at goal in total. Yet, Jordan Pickford was able to stand up to the task on each occasion and several Everton players also had an excellent game.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has insisted that the Blues were not in the right frame of mind during Saturday's shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace. The Eagles had not registered a goal or point in the first seven matches of the campaign, but they turned out with a renewed vigour against the Premier League champions.

Speaking to French outlet SFR Sport, Courtois admitted that the players on the field were not good enough on the day, whilst also including himself, he said, "The 11 players on the pitch were not at the right level. We were not as intense as they [Palace] were at the beginning. Then we were very unlucky with the first goal – and we can barely even call it a goal."

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said that his players need to be ready for this important week that could determine the future of their season. Indeed Chelsea will be playing against Swansea away in the Premier League during the week and will then be facing Newcastle United at home, before their final make-or-break Champions League match against Atletico.

The Chelsea manager acknowledges that it has been a tough start to the season for his team and that it is important that they improve if they want to retain their title.

Mohamed Salah will have a point to prove when he goes up against his former team for the first time in the Premier League since joining Liverpool from Roma in the summer. The Egyptian heads into the weekend as the league’s top goalscorer with nine goals.

Liverpool have an impressive attack with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino expected to support Salah in a front three and then Philippe Coutinho as a head of the three central midfielders in Jurgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 formation.

The good news for us is that the Reds’ defence is shaky. Although they have a good record at Anfield, the likes of Watford have scored three goals, Leicester two goals and Tottenham four goals against them already this season. With Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard in excellent form at the moment it could make for a shootout at Anfield on Saturday evening.