LIVERPOOL are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against Chelsea but can they be trusted to keep that run going in Saturday night's live match on BTSport (kick-off 5:30pm)?
Before the week started it looked as though Liverpool would go in to the game the fresher following both sides' midweek European exertions. However despite the fact that the Reds played a full 21 hours earlier than Chelsea and only had to hop over to the south of Spain (as opposed to Chelsea's 6,000 mile round trip to Azerbaijan) their relinquishing of a 3-0 lead will have left them emotionally drained, if not physically.
The nature of the 3-3 draw with Sevilla was so very typically Liverpool, especially under Klopp. Excellent in the first half but rudderless in the second. In the cold light of day it was a welcome point but as one twitter pundit put it, “what a terrible way to get a good result”.
By contrast, Antonio Conte's men strolled to a 4-0 triumph against Qarabag, securing their place in the Champions League last 16.
Liverpool find themselves in fifth position going in to the match, just one point behind a much-lauded Spurs side, and mathematically at least, they have the chance to leapfrog the Blues and move in to third with a 3-0 or bigger win.
However, their record versus top four sides doesn't fill you with much confidence. They dropped points against Man Utd (0-0 H), Spurs (1-4 A) and Man City (0-5 A). In fact the only team they've beaten in the current top 10 are Arsenal (4-0 H).
Despite all that, the Reds are now unbeaten in five. Their defensive record at home looks pretty solid too but scratch beneath the surface and it's maybe not as impressive as it first seems. Sure, the 0-0 draw with Man Utd is the stand-out result but clean sheets against Southampton and Huddersfield, who have scored just nine and eight goals in the league respectively perhaps aren't stats we should be using to build a case for the defence.
Factor in shipping two or more against Hoffenheim, Sevilla (twice), Spurs, Watford, Man City and Leicester it's clear where Liverpool's deficiencies lie.
For Chelsea it's six wins in their last seven in all competitions and they appear to have recovered from a difficult spell that saw them lose to Man City and Crystal Palace then draw at home with Roma.
Chelsea look much better equipped to make a serious claim at being title contenders and are more than capable of getting something from the game therefore 13/5 with William Hill makes for a nice addition to a long-shot accumulator. They've won one, drawn one and lost one immediately after Champions League matches this season whereas that record for Liverpool is much grimmer, having lost three.
But I'm more inclined to keep the draw on side howver; five of the last eight meetings have finished all-square so I'm backing the Blues draw no bet.
Recommendation
- Chelsea draw no bet 17/11 Unibet, 888Sport (3pts)
