Liverpool vs Chelsea Preview and Betting Tips

We bagged our second winning bet of the season last weekend. We were on Chelsea -1 vs Arsenal at 9/4 and they came away with a 2-0 win. The Blues have now won 2/2, the same record as their hosts Liverpool. Someone’s 100% record has to go on Saturday evening and this match has all the makings of a Premier League classic. Liverpool vs Chelsea kicks off at 17.30 and you can watch it live on Sky Sports.

The atmosphere should be electric inside Anfield for this evening kick off. With the prospect of a raucous home crowd behind them, The Reds are unsurprisingly favourites at around 6/4. You can back Chelsea at 2/1 and the draw is chalked up at a best price of 5/2. Can Liverpool continue their winning start to the season? Or will Tuchel and Chelsea leave Klopp and The Kop singing the blues? Find out in our big match preview below.

Liverpool

It has been a pretty busy transfer window for Liverpool as far as departures are concerned. Shaqiri and Wijnaldum have both left the club and Ozan Kabak is another player who featured last season who won’t be around. Ibrahima Konate is their only addition so far but Gomez, Van Dijk and Matip are back and they will feel like new signings given how long they had been absent. Harvey Elliott has also been promoted to the first team squad after a successful spell at Blackburn last season.

Liverpool have taken care of business against Burnley and Norwich so far. They kept clean sheets in both matches but they weren’t overly convincing in either fixture. Norwich were right in the game up until Firmino put Liverpool 2 up in the 65th minute and it was a very similar story vs Burnley. Diogo Jota scored the opening goal in both matches and he has definitely hit the ground running.

Step Up

Chelsea will pose far more problems than Burnley or Norwich. Liverpool will have to step up considerably on their first two displays to win this. They conceded a couple of great chances in both games and if they do that against Chelsea, Lukaku is unlikely to look a gift horse in the mouth. He looked razor sharp on his second Chelsea debut last weekend and his physical presence will worry the Liverpool defence.

It will be the biggest test that Van Dijk’s knee has faced since his return. He has cruised through the first couple of matches but this will represent a far sterner examination. The possible return of Robertson is a big plus for The Reds and Fabinho is back in training too after his Father passed away. They need him back in the engine room because Keita has not convinced there in either of his starts this season. This will be a real test of Liverpool’s title credentials and if they can get the win, it would show that Klopp’s Reds mean business this season.

Chelsea

Chelsea won 2-0 vs Arsenal last Sunday but it could have been a lot more. They finished the match with an xG of 3.64 while The Gunners only managed 0.63. Bar a short spell at the start of the match it was a dominant display and Romelu Lukaku made a triumphant return to the Premier League with the opening goal after 15 minutes. Once Reece James added a spectacular second, there was only going to be one winner.

Just like their opponents, the reigning European Champions have signed just one player this season. They lacked a lethal striker last year and Lukaku will now spearhead their attack. Rudiger, Christensen and Azpilicueta looked rock solid vs Arsenal last time and they will likely start again. James and Alonso could keep their places on the flanks but Ben Chilwell is another option there for Tuchel. Kante and Jorginho will likely play in midfield with Mount, Havertz or Werner and Lukaku completing the line up. Pulisic is unavailable with Covid-19.

Title Contenders

Even before Lukaku arrived, Chelsea were being talked up as title contenders. Now that they have secured his services, they have to be considered as one of the favourites.. They have one of the strongest squads in the league, as was evidenced by the fact that they could afford to leave the likes of Thiago Silva, Kante, Chilwell, Werner and Ziyech on the bench at The Emirates.

The manner of their win at Arsenal was a real signal of intent and Thomas Tuchel will be aiming for a similar sort of performance and result at Anfield on Saturday evening. He’ll be hoping that Kante and Jorginho can grasp control of the midfield and silence the Anfield crowd early. If they can win that battle and survive the Liverpool high press, they have an excellent chance of winning this match.

Liverpool vs Chelsea H2H

Liverpool vs Chelsea Betting Tip

Last season, Chelsea won this fixture 1-0. It was their first Premier League victory at Anfield since 2014 but they were up against a Liverpool side that was depleted by injuries and this will be a tougher task for them. Kabak and Fabinho started at the back for Liverpool on that occasion but this time it will be Matip and Van Dijk. However, they will be up against a tough opponent in Lukaku and it will be interesting to see who Tuchel starts behind the big Belgian striker.

Mount looks sure to play but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tuchel opted for the pace of Werner instead of Havertz for this match. Liverpool play with a high defensive line and they are always susceptible to balls in behind, even with Van Dijk in the team. This will most definitely be an area that Tuchel will try to exploit, just like they did when winning 1-0 at Anfield last season. I can see them playing long, early, diagonal balls over the Liverpool press in behind the full backs and I think they can get their third win of the season on the board. At odds of 2/1, Chelsea are worth backing to get the victory.

Liverpool vs Chelsea Betting Tip: Chelsea to win @ 2/1

Key Manager Quotes

Jurgen Klopp: ‘I expect a very difficult game for both teams. Both are really well organised. It’ll be a big fight. It’s a game I’d watch 100% if not involved. It’s a must-watch. Chelsea in a really good moment.’

Thomas Tuchel (on the battle between Lukaku and Van Dijk): ‘I am looking forward to it, I think many fans of football are looking forward to that battle. For Romelu, it is a big challenge. He had a very good start so now we are into details, connecting better and better. The stress is on tomorrow at Anfield but we knew we were getting a big and experienced player. He loves these kind of matches

DaveStevos