Premier League Matchday 8, Sunday, 20.10.2024 at 17:30
After the international break, the Premier League returns with a real cracker: Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield Road on Sunday evening.
And what can I say? Where it says top game on it, it probably also means top game. After all, the leaders are facing the fourth-placed team in the table.
Even if there has rarely been a festival of goals to marvel at in recent years, it has always been closely fought and of a high tactical standard.
It is well known that the visitors have done little tactically this season. With 16 goals scored, they have the second-best offense in the Premier League.
In contrast, the Reds have been defensively stable. They have only conceded two goals and have also recorded the most clean sheets (5).
However, my Liverpool Chelsea betting tip is skeptical that this streak can be extended. I expect a duel at eye level.
The prediction of the bookmakers?
Anfield Road is a magical place and when the home side go into a home game as league leaders, it is clear that their chest is broad.
This is also reflected in the three-way bets for the Liverpool Chelsea tip. The various top betting providers are all predicting a home win.
However, the course of the match is relatively open for all of them. The odds for a game with goals on both sides are under 1.50.
Analysis: Liverpool vs Chelsea
If the bookmakers’ predictions come true, the Reds would record their seventh win in eight league games. That would be the fifth time in their history.
Interestingly, when they have managed to do so, they have also won the championship in three out of four cases. The last time was in 2019/20.
The Londoners are known to want to prevent that. Together with LFC, they are the only team to have won all three of their away games so far.
They have even won their last five games away from home this season. They have therefore only lost one of their last eleven matches away from home (6S, 4U).
Ratings analysis
There’s a good reason why you should at least keep an eye on the “double chance” bets in the Liverpool Chelsea betting tip.
At Admiralbet’s top bookmakers, you’ll find odds of just over 2.00 before kick-off if the Blues take at least one point from Anfield.
But caution is advised. The Reds have not lost any of their last nine head-to-head matches in all competitions. However, they have also only won two games in this phase.
However, the defense has often stood firm in the head-to-head meetings. They have kept a clean sheet in five of the last seven alone!
Will it be the same this time? The bookies at Interwetten only predict a prediction of over 3.00.
Liverpool FC: The defense is the trump card
However, we can’t get around the fact that the defensive performance will be decisive for the game. That has always been the case with the Reds.
In the 266 minutes in which games involving them have been drawn, they have only allowed 16 shots on goal – an average of just 5.4 per 90 minutes.
Coach Arne Slot will therefore once again urge caution. Once they have the lead, I don’t expect them to give it away.
Can Chelsea keep the streak going?
But if there’s one team apart from Manchester City and Arsenal that can break the Anfield Road bulwark, it’s the Blues.
Especially because they face the Reds in their favorite month. They have won 12 of their last 15 away games in October (2U, 1N), keeping ten clean sheets in the process.
They also have one of the best players in the league at the moment in Cole Palmer. He has scored eleven goals so far. He recently scored four times against Brighton!
However, Noni Madueke also poses a threat. Palmer has already set up four goals for his compatriot and both have created 15 goalscoring opportunities for each other this season.
The Reds enjoyed a brilliant 4-1 victory at the same venue last season. That means they have not lost a league clash with the Londoners since March 2021 (1S, 5U).
And of course, home advantage is an important factor for Liverpool against Chelsea. However, I wouldn’t put it too high
The Reds have only won three of their last 14 games on the Mersey against the Blues. They have shared the points seven times.
In fact, they have only lost two of their last 19 matches in all competitions (7S, 10U). It won’t be a walk in the park for either side.
My Liverpool Chelsea tip:
Unlike most bookmakers, I’m not expecting hurrah soccer from either side. I don’t really trust the game yet.
The Reds visit Leipzig on Wednesday, so they won’t be firing from all cylinders just yet. The Blues now face their first real test of the season away from home.
Therefore, my Liverpool Chelsea tip is: There will be less than 3.5 goals in the game!
