Liverpool vs Chelsea Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions

Premier League action returns to our screens this weekend with an absolute humdinger as Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield on Sunday. Playing at their fortress and riding a six-game winning streak, the Reds are favourites heading into the clash, but Arne Slot’s men will need to be wary of the attacking threat posed by Enzo Maresca’s side. The Blues have a 100 percent win record away from home and will look to continue their winning ways.

Liverpool ran out comfortable 4-1 winners the last time these sides met in the Premier League. But prior to that encounter, the sides had cancelled each other out in five consecutive league meetings. Chelsea’s last league win over the Merseyside club was back in March 2021 when Mason Mount scored the game’s only goal to silence a raucous Anfield crowd.  

Liverpool: Current Form – WLWWW  

Liverpool have made a fine start to the season under their new manager, picking up 15 points from their opening six games to sit at the top of the Premier League table. The Reds started the campaign like a house on fire, securing 2-0 wins over Ipswich Town (A) and Brentford (H).  

Next up was Slot’s first big test – a trip to Old Trafford to face last season’s FA Cup winners, Manchester United. The Dutch manager, however, passed his exam with flying colours as his side claimed a memorable 3-0 victory in Manchester.  

What came next caught many by shock as Liverpool slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. But that result was nothing more than a blip as the Reds went on to win their next three league games with victories over Bournemouth (3-0 at home), Wolves (2-1 away) and Crystal Palace (1-0 away). 

Van Dijk

Key Players to Watch 

Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian was Liverpool’s best attacker under Jurgen Klopp since arriving from Roma in 2017, and in seven games under Slot this term, it’s been no different. Whether the Reds are scoring goals or creating them, Salah is likely to be involved. 

Luis Diaz: The skilful Colombian forward is the club’s top scorer with five goals to his name. He looks like scoring each time he’s running at goal, and he will aim to cause the Blues all kinds of problems with his speed, trickery and goal threat.  

Virgil van Dijk: The veteran Dutch international has been a rock for the Reds this season, playing every minute of Liverpool’s seven games and helping them keep five clean sheets. Coming up against the highest-scoring away team, Slot will need the rest of his defenders on the same wavelength as Van Dijk. 

Liverpool Team News 

Liverpool will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker due to a hamstring injury he picked up in the 79th minute against Crystal Palace. Vitezslav Jaros came on to replace the Brazilian for the final minutes, but Slot is likely to call upon Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.  

The match is expected to come too soon for Harvey Elliot who has been on the sidelines after fracturing his foot, but Slot is likely to welcome back new signing Federico Chiesa to his matchday squad.  

Chelsea: Current Form – DWWWD 

It was always going to be a tough start to life at Chelsea for new manager Enzo Maresca, especially hosting the reigning champions Manchester City in their season opener. As many predicted, the west London club suffered defeat at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s men, going down 2-0.   

But since then, the Blues have performed exceptionally well, going on a six-game unbeaten run while scoring goals for fun. Maresca's side thumped Wolves 6-2 at the Molineux, in a game where Noni Madueke thrived, netting a hat-trick.  

Chelsea were forced to settle for a 1-1 home draw against Crystal Palace in their next game but responded brilliantly with three successive wins over Bournemouth (1-0 away), West Ham (3-0 away and Brighton (4-2 at home). Prior to the break though, the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.   

Image Credits: Alex Pantling//Getty Images

Key Players to Watch 

Cole Palmer: The England men’s player of the year has undoubtedly been Chelsea’s best performer this season. With six goals – four coming in the first half against Brighton – and five assists, Palmer has contributed the most goals in the league.  

Noni Madueke: Another exciting English talent, Madueke has looked reborn under Maresca. Despite the high-profile acquisition of Pedro Neto from Wolves, he has made the right-wing position his own, netting four goals, including a hat-trick.  

Nicolas Jackson: The young Senegalese striker looks more mature after a promising debut season under his belt. He already has four goals to his name – he had just one at this stage last season – while he's also racked up three assists.