Chelsea v Liverpool- Preview, Predictions, and Best Bets

Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the English Premier League. The Blues have had a very busy summer with nine first-team regulars departing and four significant new additions coming through the door. Liverpool have also been busy with a midfield revamp underway. Both clubs will be looking to get back into the top four after falling below expectations last term.

Chelsea Form

Chelsea finished 12th last season in a terrible campaign from start to finish. They had the 15th best home record in the Premier League with just six victories in 19 matches with 20 goals scored. Their final 12 league matches brought just one victory. Graham Potter was sacked after a 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa. Things got even worse under caretaker Frank Lampard.

His first six matches in charge in all competitions ended in defeats, including home losses to Brighton and Brentford and a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal. A 3-1 win at Bournemouth preceded a 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest and losses at Man City (1-0) and Man Utd (4-1). The season came to an end with a 1-1 home stalemate against Newcastle.

Chelsea Team News

Chelsea have allowed numerous first-team regulars to depart and have lowered the age of the squad dramatically. There are only two players older than 26 in the squad right now. One big new signing in Christopher Nkunku is out injured long-term so Nicolas Jackson will lead the line after the sale of Kai Havertz.

The midfield has been decimated with Conor Gallagher set to play alongside Enzo Fernandez in this one after Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante left. At the back, returning loanee Levi Colwill is set to start ahead of new signing Axel Disasi. Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are out injured.

Chelsea Motivation

The Blues will be very motivated to start the season well under new coach Mauricio Pochettino. He will demand high energy and work rate. Expect Chelsea to press Liverpool high in the early stages.

The hosts will play for the win to lay down a marker in the top four race. A draw would not be a bad result though so they may become more conservative as the match progresses.

Liverpool Form

Liverpool finished eighth last season, 11 points off the top four. They won just three of their first 15 away league matches, one of the biggest reasons for failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. After losing 4-1 at Man City in April, they had a very strong end to the season by going unbeaten in 11 matches.

After two draws, they won seven league matches on the spin with 20 goals scored. A 6-1 win at Leeds, a 4-3 home victory over Tottenham and a win 3-0 at Leicester were the highlights. With their top four hopes gone by that stage, they drew their final two matches. A 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa required an 89th minute equaliser. On the final day, they played out a crazy 4-4 draw at already-relegated Southampton.

Liverpool Team News

The Reds have seen Roberto Firmino released and both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho sold to clubs in Saudi Arabia. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have been signed in midfield with Moises Caicedo seemingly on the verge on completing a new-look engine room. Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are both injured in midfield.

With no holding midfielder, Jurgen Klopp could go with the two new men in midfield and a front four. Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah will be joined by one of Darwin Nunez or Diogo Jota. Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to continue his role as an inverted fullback.

Liverpool Motivation

Klopp will want to go to Stamford Bridge and win. He will want to see his side immediately mark themselves at title contenders with three points.

A draw would not be a bad result in isolation, though. With an attacking front four expected to be selected, the Reds have no choice but to attack in this one.

Key Stats

Chelsea have lost 9 of their last 13 matches in all competitions

Chelsea have won just once in 10 home Premier League matches (D5, L4)

Chelsea have kept 4 clean sheets in a row against Liverpool in all competitions.

Liverpool have drawn their last 6 matches vs Chelsea

Liverpool are 11 EPL matches unbeaten (7 wins, 4 draws)

LFC have won 3 of their last 4 away Premier League matches (15 goals scored)

CFC have failed to score in 11 of their last 20 matches (all comps)

Verdict

Both these sides are somewhat in transition as big players have departed and some big signings have been made. Chelsea and Liverpool seem to draw with each other constantly and maybe that is the best bet in this one. We should see a decent number of goals.

Best Bet: Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5 goals at 1.90
Value Bet: Draw at 3.55
Goalscorer Tip: Mohammed Salah anytime scorer at 2.65

James O'Connor

James is a football analyst who writes about the tactics of the PSL and English Premier League. He holds the UEFA A coaching licence and has previously worked for several clubs in analysis roles.Twitter: https://twitter.com/footy_analysis