Liverpool vs Chelsea 21-01-2023

Preview

Liverpool and Chelsea begin a busy Premier League weekend to capitalize on one another’s problems. The two heavyweights, who are currently ranked ninth and tenth in the standings, might deal a crushing blow to any hopes that their rivals may have had of making a late push for a seat in Europe.

After a poor first half of the season, Liverpool and Chelsea are currently ranked ninth and tenth in the Premier League, respectively. Both teams have struggled to live up to preseason expectations this season. While the Reds have dropped back-to-back away matches, they have played better at home, winning six of their last nine matches and losing just once.

Thomas Tuchel was fired by the Blues earlier this season, and Graham Potter was brought in to replace him. Potter has had a rocky start at Stamford Bridge, with the team having won only two of their previous ten Premier League games. Potter has had trouble selecting his strongest starting lineup despite going on a significant shopping spree in the summer.

The additions of Joao Felix, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, and Molde striker David Datro Fofana in January have considerably strengthened the team. In contrast, despite their problems in the position, Liverpool has avoided the urge to spend big money on a midfielder.

Form Guide: Liverpool

In the Reds’ FA Cup third-round replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday, Jurgen Klopp got the outcome he wanted after being forced to see the “worst” game of his Liverpool career, a 3-0 humiliation at Brighton & Hove Albion, only a few days earlier.

Harvey Elliott’s incredible goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory, securing their place in the fourth round and another trip to the Amex Stadium to play Brighton as the Merseyside giants eventually triumphed for the first time in 2023 at the fourth attempt.

Liverpool’s defeat at the Amex marked the first time since 1993 that the Reds had lost their first two league games of the year. A season without European competition beckons unless the Reds have a remarkable turnaround in the coming months; they are currently two points behind Brighton in seventh place and 10 points outside of the Champions League spots.

The Reds have lost both of their league games against Brentford and Brighton, conceding three times in both matches. These defensive worries will be concerning Klopp, despite having a side packed with the talent of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as they come up against Chelsea.

Form Guide: Chelsea

Graeme Potter When Crystal Palace came to town, Chelsea had to rely on both Thiago Silva and Kepa Arrizabalaga to keep them in the game. Nevertheless, the West London powerhouses narrowly won 1-0.

At Stamford Bridge, where Mykhaylo Mudryk, Chelsea’s fifth acquisition in a busy winter transfer window, was unveiled after the Blues edged out Arsenal to sign the highly-rated Ukrainian forward, Kai Havertz’s header separated the two capital rivals with 64 minutes played.

Chelsea is barely hanging onto their top-half berth in 10th place after avoiding a fourth Premier League game without a victory. They are behind Liverpool on goal differential and have an identical distance to make up the top seven and Champions League spots.

Even though Potter has only won two of his past 10 Premier League matches as manager and the Blues have started a dismal five-game winless streak away from home in the top division since defeating Aston Villa in October, the Chelsea board has continued to support him.

Victory against Crystal Palace may have kept the metaphoric ‘dark clouds’ away from Stamford Bridge for a little while longer, but with just two wins in their last 10 leagues games– none of which have come on the road – Potter will need his magic to start working in his 20th game in all competitions in charge of the Blues. Stumble here and his time at the club could end abruptly.

How the game could go

Both teams are in poor shape heading into this contest and have been plagued with Injuries. The Reds however have an advantage over the Blues due to their superior offense. The Blues has struggled to score goals and it is likely to continue against the Reds.

Liverpool’s defense had to withstand wave after wave of pressure from Wolves in the FA Cup, but they held out well in a marked improvement of their levels of resilience, which will serve them well against a Chelsea side still struggling for results on the road.

With the roar of the Anfield faithful behind them and the expected return of the nuisance that is Nunez, we have faith in Liverpool to continue their wonderful goalscoring streak at home and send Chelsea back to London with zero points to their name.

It’s hard to gauge Liverpool at the moment, while Chelsea’s options have been decimated by injury. With neither at full strength, a draw seems a likely outcome.

Betting Predictions

Draw

Both teams will be desperate to get 3pts on the board this weekend but we are predicting a very tight and tense 90 minutes. Neither of these two teams has been in the best of form in recent weeks and we can see the two cancel each other out on Saturday. Each of the last four meetings between the two clubs in league and cup has ended all square after 90 minutes, Liverpool’s last home game ended in a stalemate and Chelsea hasn’t won any of their last six away games in all competitions. Bet9ja have 3.75, 1xbet have 4.06 and Paripesa have 4.06 odds.

Under 2.5 goals

Five of the last six encounters between these two sides in the league and cup have ended with under 2.5 goals being scored. Liverpool’s midweek FA Cup replay with Wolves also ended with fewer than three goals being scored while four of Chelsea’s last five league games have produced under 2.5 goals, so you can see why we’re predicting a low-scoring 90-minutes at Anfield. Bet9ja have 1.70 odds, Paripesa have 1.76, and 1xbet have 1.76 odds.

Anytime Goalscorer (Liverpool)

Salah

Despite their issues in defense, Liverpool still has elite attacking options, and none more so than talisman Mo Salah. The Egyptian has seven goals in his last 12 starts and looks likely to be a menace to his former side Chelsea once again, he has netted seven times against the Blues in the past. Bet9ja have 2.50 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.30.

Darwin Nunez

The Striker has found it hard to adapt to the league’s style of play since moving but he has found the back of the net when necessary making him a fair choice here today. Now back in the squad, we can expect a lot from him in today’s game. He was the main man at the start of the season and now we are sure of him to show that sort of form Bet9ja have 2.45 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.50.

Anytime Goalscorer (Chelsea)

Kai Havertz

For Chelsea this season, the German is in first place in terms of goals (five), shots (35), shots on target (17), and shots off target (14) Of all of their players, he has played the third-most minutes. Since the addition of Mykhailo Mudryk and Joo Félix (although he is suspended for this game), we anticipate that Havertz, if he stays, will be utilized more in a central position. Until now, he has been employed in a variety of places across the forwards set. Bet9ja have 4.00 odds for him to score while Paripesa has 4.00 odds

Mason Mount

Mason Mount has participated in 18 games, taken 19 shots overall with 9 of them finding the target, and scored 3 goals. He is a player who loves the big games which is why we have included him here. Bet9ja have 5.00 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 5.00.