Premier League: Fallen Giants Meet at the Bridge

Chelsea vs Liverpool

Pick any season from the past decade and Premier League: Chelsea vs Liverpool would have been a top four clash. It’s still a box office draw but neither club has had a domestic season to remember and it got worse for both of them on Saturday.

Graham Potter’s Chelsea suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, an incredible run when you consider the wealth of talent the beleaguered boss has at his disposal. Meanwhile Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were shown just how far they are adrift from the current elite when they were pulled apart by Manchester City in a 4-1 mauling at the Etihad.

In terms of the SBOTOP odds for next season’s Champions League it’s unlikely either will be in the mix, Europa League footy looks more likely and that will be difficult for their fans to swallow.

But hey – there are still ten games to play, 11 for Liverpool and the Reds haven’t given up yet.     

Talking Points

Potter under pressure

Another defeat for Chelsea has just piled more pressure on Potter, one of the brightest young managers in the game but with an expensively assembled team. The Blues now sit in 11^th place; London rival Spurs have just sacked Antonio Conte and they are fourth, while Leicester City announced, on Sunday, that they had parted company with Brendan Rodgers.   

In contrast, Aston Villa are upwardly mobile and they leapfrogged the Blues into the top half of the table as Ollie Watkins and John McGinn scored either side of half time, to leave the home fans singing, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing,’ in the direction of their head coach. Potter wasn’t helped by the form of some of his players though, particularly January signing Mykhailo Mudryk who is yet to settle fully at the Bridge. He had a poor game, missing two great chances and he needs to show more composure in front of goal.

The return of wing back Ben Chilwell has strengthened the Blues and he provides support for the creative players like Kai Havertz and Joao Felix. But Chelsea, and their manager, desperately need a result.  

Chelsea can exploit Liverpool’s home sickness   

Back to back defeats have left Liverpool seven points behind fourth place Tottenham and, after receiving a harsh lesson in Manchester they have now lost eight Premier League away games this season, as many as they lost over the past three campaigns combined. And while Liverpool only managed four shots against Manchester City, it was the showing from his defence which will have concerned Klopp the most. His team missed chances to stop the Sky Blues and lost too many one-to-one encounters. Trent Alexander Arnold’s defending for City’s fourth goal was awful as he gave the in form Jack Grealish all the space he needed; but to be fair to the England wing-back, all four of the Reds’ back line were woefully short when the Sky Blues moved up a gear.

Kostas Tsmikas came on and he showed more resilience and he may get a start against the Blues, but Klopp will be hoping centre back Virgil Van Dijk can rediscover his form of previous seasons. Liverpool need leaders and Van Dijk isn’t currently at his best. Of course Manchester City away is not the best benchmark for most teams in the league; but Liverpool would like to think they should compete at the top.

But if they defend like they did in the second half when they meet Chelsea then Havertz, Felix and even Mudryk could have a good night.         

History

The Chelsea vs Liverpool results could hardly be closer for these two Premier League ever presents. In all competitions since 1993 the Blues have won 31 games to the Reds’ 30 and there have been 22 draws. The last five meetings have ended in stalemate after 90 minutes; and last season Liverpool had the better of Chelsea twice in Wembley penalty shootouts, winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals.

This season they played put a 0-0 draw at Anfield in January.       

In terms of recent form the hosts are slightly stronger. Liverpool have lost three in a row and have lost their last three games away from Anfield.   

Betting Tip

The Chelsea vs Liverpool betting odds suggest a tight game with all three results well in play. Liverpool are at 2.62 and the Draw is at 3.16 with Chelsea at 2.32 to win. It’s a tough one to call but I think Potter will get a reaction from his players and Liverpool’s away form makes them vulnerable.

 

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