The Blues will be hoping to turn their recent run over Liverpool around as they plot to take a six-point lead over the Merseyside giants. Although Chelsea has not beaten the Reds in seven matches, they’re somehow unbeaten at Anfield in six meetings.
There’s been loads of talk about Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, but not many pundits and experts have given Chelsea a mention. They’ve been bubbling under the radar and find themselves in third spot coming into this game.
Antonio Conte’s men have been a bit shaky at Stamford Bridge this season, but on the road, they’ve been superb. Chelsea are the league’s second, highest goalscorers away from home and have the second-best defence – both bettered by only Man City.
Chelsea will be glad that £70m hitman, Alvaro Morata, has hit the ground running from the start. He’s had a hand in 12 goals in 11 games for the Blues this season and the Chelsea faithful have already forgotten the name ‘Diego Costa’.
Morata has netted five times away from home and has formed a telepathic understanding with the likes of Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas. No matter who chips in with the goals, Hazard will always be Chelsea’s, go-to man. After smashing West Brom 4-0 at the Hawthorns, Conte spoke on the pair playing together in a front two and hopes that they continue to play in the same sort of fashion.
“I would like to speak about the performance of the whole team because today [Saturday] we showed great compactness and great focus,” said Conte.
“But for sure, there is a good link with the two strikers, Morata and Hazard. I hope they continue in this way. If you want to do something important, it is very important to find stability and find the right balance,” he concluded.
The Blues can hurt any team in Europe if they’re up for it, and with players like Hazard, Morata and Fabregas, you can never write them off, especially under a mastermind tactician in Conte.
Probable line-ups:
Liverpool: 4-3-3
Mignolet; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Chelsea: 3-5-1-1
Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Alonso; Hazard; Morata.
Verdict: Liverpool Win/Draw & Both Teams to Score (11/10)
As tough as this will be for both clubs, I don’t see Liverpool losing at home. At the same time, no clean sheets will be kept this time around. Chelsea’s left-wingback, Marcos Alonso, won’t be able to deal with the threat that Mohamed Salah poses, and with Adam Lallana returning, the Reds have their engine back. I quite like the look of Liverpool on the Win/Draw Double Chance and Both Teams to Score, but if you want to have a punt on Hollywoodbets’ price boosts and specials, then I suggest you back Salah and Morata Both to Score at 9/2.