The Premier League resumes following a 13-day pause due to international fixtures. This weekend's standout fixture unfolds at Anfield on Sunday, October 20. For that clash, table-toppers Liverpool welcome Chelsea in what promises to be an action-packed encounter.
The Reds enter this clash with six wins in their last seven EPL games. They also have a perfect record in the UEFA Champions League, with two wins in two games. In their last match before the international break, Liverpool secured a 1:0 victory against Crystal Palace.
Their victory came courtesy of a 9-minute goal from Portuguese international Diogo Jota. Thanks to that win, Liverpool now has 18 points from seven games. The Reds are yet to record a draw this season.Β
However, they have lost one game in the league. Their sole loss came against Nottingham Forest on matchday 3. Despite their leading position in the league, Liverpool will do well to take this game seriously to get a positive result.
Chelsea has also been on a good run of form, with five wins in their last six games across all competitions. Due to their strong showing in the league this season, the Blues are fourth in the EPL standings.Β
They have won four league games, drawn two, and lost once. Despite securing three consecutive victories, Chelsea could only manage a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in their last match. The failure to win that game was a missed opportunity for the Blues, as their opponents received a red card.
Despite that disappointing result, Chelsea is in a much better position than when they started the league last season. The Blues lost three of their first seven EPL games last season, managing only two wins and two draws.
Given Chelseaβs strengths, many expect this game to be a serious test for Liverpool. However, Arne Slotβs men will fancy their chances heading into this game. The Reds defeated Chelsea in two of their three meetings last season. The only draw came at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the 2023/24 season. That game ended as a 1:1 draw.
Given their recent record against Chelsea, we expect Liverpool to triumph at home or, at the very least, secure a draw on Sunday. The Reds have scored 13 goals in seven EPL matches while conceding twice, making them a formidable opponent.
They also have the home advantage heading into this game, increasing their prospects for a win or draw.
For our first prediction, we expect Liverpool to win or draw this clash. Popular sportsbook Betano agrees with this prediction and favors Liverpool with odds of 1.31 on the Draw No Bet market.
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In their last five meetings, both teams scored in only two matches. Two games ended in 0-0 draws, while one concluded with a 1-0 win for The Reds. Considering these statistics and Liverpoolβs strong defense this season, we don't anticipate both sides finding the net in this clash.
So, for our second prediction, we select the Both Teams To Score: No option. 1xbet has valued the odds for this option at 2.63.
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Chelsea ranks second in the English Premier League Discipline Stats. The Blues have received 27 yellow cards in seven games, averaging 3.85 per match. In stark contrast, Liverpool is 17th in the discipline standings.
They have received 14 yellow cards in their last seven matches, averaging two yellow cards per game. Therefore, for our third prediction, we anticipate more than 5.5 cards will be issued in this encounter.
Liverpool has been exceptional this season, winning all their games, bar one. Their sole defeat came at home against 1:0 Nottingham Forest on matchday four. However, Liverpool has not looked back since that loss. They have won all of their home games since that defeat.
Currently, the Reds are on a six-game winning streak, and a win against Chelsea will make it seven. Given the quality of their squad, Arne Slotβs team is in a strong position to secure the win.
Goalkeeper Alisson is out until late November with a hamstring injury. Harvey Elliot has a broken foot and is expected to miss this game.
Predicted Lineup: Kelleher, Alexander Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenbach, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Gakpo, Jota
Chelsea's performances this season have also been excellent compared to last campaign. The Blues are on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Enzo Marescaβs team has scored 16 goals and conceded eight times in the Premier League this season.
Heading into this game, they aim to recover from their 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. Chelsea has been highly effective on the road this season, winning all three away matches. They began with a 6-2 victory over Wolves in their first away game and followed it up with 1-0 and 3-0 wins against Bournemouth and West Ham, respectively.
Chelsea have no major injury worries heading into this tie. Enzo Maresca is facing his second big test in the dugout following a 2-0 loss to Champions Manchester City. We expect him to stick to the line up that has got him an impressive unbeaten streak in the last 6 league games.
Predicted Lineup: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernadez, Caicedo, Sancho, Palmer, Madueke, Jackson.
Liverpool have the edge going into this game. As a result, we expect the Reds to get maximum points or at least secure a draw at Anfield this weekend. Liverpool has been resolute defensively, conceding two goals in seven EPL games. Given their current run of form, our main prediction for this game is the Draw No Bet option favoring Liverpool.