Liverpool vs Chelsea: Preview and Prediction

Sunday 14th April 2019

England Premier League
Sunday 14th April 2019
Kick off at 4.30pm BST
Venue: Anfield

Match Preview:

Is it squeaky bum time at Liverpool yet? This fixture on Sunday at least on paper for The Reds could be the final real test of their season as they take on their last ‘elite’ side in Chelsea.

One is reminded of course of the 2013/14 season when Liverpool looked like wrapping up the league title until Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea rolled into Anfield and left with a 2-0 victory, it was a tactical moment of genius from Mourinho that season that unnerved Liverpool and the title was soon gone. Could Maurizio Sarri’s side repeat that trick?

It seems unlikely given just how strong Liverpool have been at home this season and they come into this game still undefeated in front of their home fans, picking up 44 points from a possible 48. Form is good too winning their last 4 League games in a row and they have one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League after beating Porto 2-0 at Anfield in the 1^st leg.

Manchester City will play earlier in the day and so Liverpool will know what they have to do. If all goes to form, City could be 1 point ahead of Liverpool before kick off, but any way you look at it Liverpool need to win this game.

Chelsea have been good this season without being remarkable - there are some games we can pick out when they have looked brilliant, such as their 2-0 home win over Manchester City earlier in the season but in general they have been a shadow of the side that have won countless trophies in the past decade.

Eden Hazard was praised by the press after his brilliant display against West Ham in Chelsea’s last game which they won 2-0 courtesy of two goals from the Belgian. But with all due respect to The Hammers, they are not going through their best patch of form and the game was at Stamford Bridge. Is Hazard really as good as some would suggest? If so, isn’t this game at Anfield all set up for him to really prove himself against a team who have lost just 1 game this season?

The Blues are 4th in the league but that is a little false given that Arsenal who are just behind them have a game in hand, but winning this match would make their top 4 status seem legit. They come into this game having won their last 3 League matches in a row.

Team News:

Liverpool: Adam Lallana’s knock has kept him out of Liverpool’s last two games but he could be assessed ahead of this match. He is the only injury worry for the club

Chelsea: Maurizio Sarri’s team have no new injuries coming into this game

Liverpool vs Chelsea Head to Head:

In the reverse fixture earlier in the season the teams drew 1-1.

Last season at Anfield the teams also drew 1-1.

Liverpool have not beaten Chelsea at Anfield in the league since 2012.

There is a 70% chance to see under 2.5 goals.

Liverpool vs Chelsea Prediction:

The bonus for both teams is that they have full squads to choose from for the match. Chelsea have become quite a bogey side for Liverpool at Anfield where The Reds have struggled to beat them with most matches ending in draws. It feels though that Liverpool have been able to step up more in the big matches this season than Chelsea have, and Chelsea have lost 3 of their last 5 away games, the last time they faced a top 4 side away was Manchester City and that ended in a 6-0 defeat. What type of Chelsea side will we see at the weekend is anyone’s guess but it should be a side who are up for the game and will want to beat their opponents.

Liverpool vs Chelsea Betting Tips:

Asian handicap (+1.0 Chelsea) at 1.70

Anytime goalscorer: Mohamed Salah at 2.10