Liverpool will look to confirm their qualification for next season’s Champions League as they welcome struggling Chelsea to Anfield in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday.
Liverpool saw their three-match winning run in the Premier League come to an end last weekend, as they lost 3-2 at Old Trafford to Manchester United.
Despite that loss, the Reds remain in fourth position in the Premier League table, six points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth with just three rounds to play.
Chelsea’s abysmal run of form continued on Monday afternoon, as they fell to a 1-3 defeat at home to a heavily rotated Nottingham Forest side.
The Blues have now lost each of their previous six Premier League fixtures, a run that has seen them nosedive down to ninth position in the table, four points behind the Cherries in sixth.
How the bookies view it: Liverpool favourites
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool are favourites to inflict a seventh consecutive Premier League defeat on Chelsea, with bet365 pricing a home win at 5/6.
Chelsea are 29/10 to claim their first Premier League victory since the beginning of March, whilst the draw is 3/1.
Head to head: Home a big advantage
Chelsea have won each of the last two Premier League meetings with Liverpool, including a dramatic 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in October.
However, both of those wins were at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues winning on just one of their past 10 trips to Anfield (W1-D5-L4), losing each of the last two.
Players to watch: Dom to deliver once again?
Dominik Szoboszlai has arguably been Liverpool’s most consistent performer this season, with the ex-RB Leipzig man scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists for the Reds.
The Hungarian captain was involved in both goals at Old Trafford last weekend, and is an appealing 6/5 to Score or Assist at Anfield on Saturday.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Liverpool will still be missing Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Hugo Ekitike and Mo Salah through injury, whilst Allison and Alexander Isak are doubts.
Chelsea are still without the injured Estevao and Jamie Gittens, whilst Robert Sanchez, Benoit Badiashile, Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto are doubts.
Liverpool: Woodman, Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak
Chelsea: Jorgensen, Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Santos, Caicedo, James, Palmer, Fernandez, Pedro
Anything else catch the eye?
I’ve mentioned many times this season how inconsistent Liverpool have been, but I can’t see them fluffing their lines here against a Chelsea side that is in complete disarray right now.
Arne Slot’s men have lost just one of their previous 11 Premier League contests at Anfield (W6-D4-L1), winning three of their past four and four of their last six.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have lost six on the trot in the Premier League, conceding on 14 occasions and scoring just once, and I don’t expect them to halt that losing streak at a ground they’ve typically struggled at over the years.
GambleAware