Chelsea have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, and they remain unbeaten after the first ten weeks of the Premier League 14/15 campaign. They’ll be looking to continue that run this week when they travel to Merseyside to take on Liverpool.
Brendan Rodgers’ Reds meanwhile have endured a sticky start by their own high standards, and currently sit outside of the European qualification places in seventh – quite a turnaround considering how close they came to lifting the title last season.
Chelsea have won three and drawn two of their five games on the road so far, whereas Liverpool’s home form has been a bit patchier – the men from the Mersey having won two, drawn two and lost one….to Aston Villa.
Predicted Score; Goals
The two teams show quite contrasting fortunes when putting the ball in the net – and keeping it out of their own. Chelsea have scored an average of 2.6 goals a game on their travels, conceding 1.4. Liverpool have been far stingier, netting an average of 1 goal a game and conceding 0.8.
With that in mind, you could predict a scoreline of Liverpool 1 v 2 Chelsea (based on the combined averages – and rounding up and down – of Liverpool 1.2 and Chelsea 1.7).
This is lent some weight by looking at the Over/Under 2.5 Goal averages: Chelsea ‘go over’ in 60% of their games, whilst Liverpool do the same in 40%.
Looking at the Time of First Goal market, these two offer tasty-looking money-making potential. Chelsea’s average first goal time this campaign – whether scored or conceded – is the 36 minute mark. Liverpool’s is the 29th minute.
Odds Check:
Correct Scoreline: Liverpool 1 v 2 Chelsea (8/1)
Correct Result: Chelsea Win (23/20)
Over 2.5 Goals: 4/5
First Goal: 16-30th minute (2/1)
Corners & Cards
The disparity between these two teams continues into the Corners market – but in a different way to how you might have assumed. Chelsea, on average, only win 3.2 corners a game away from home, and have to defend an average of 6.6. At home Liverpool win an average of 7.2 and concede 4.4, which is surprising considering their average form this season.
So when you average out these numbers, you would expect Chelsea to win 3.8 corners and Liverpool to win 6.9 – a total (when rounded up/down) of 11 corners in the game.
This estimate isn’t really backed up by the Over/Under 10.5 Corners averages however. Both the Blues and the Reds have only recorded ‘Over 10.5′ corners in 40% of their games, so a word of caution when examining this market.
Onto the Cards market now, and the statistics show that Jose Mourinho’s men haven’t been afraid of sticking the boot in this campaign. They average 40 points for and 32 against on their away days. Brendan Rodgers’ team, meanwhile, have been a bit more meek – with an average of 20 cards points for and 16 against per game. It does help that they no longer have Luis Suarez, the biggest biter since Vlad the Impaler, amongst their ranks anymore.
Anyway, with these figures in mind, we’re looking at Chelsea to ‘score’ 28 points, and Liverpool 26. This gives a huge grand total of 54 points in the Cards market.
Indeed, Chelsea have recorded Over 32.5 points in 80% of their games this season. So you can expect there to be cards galore in this one….
Goalscorers
This game brings together one red-hot striker in Diego Costa and one ice-cold frontman in the shape of Mario Balotelli. You have to fancy Costa (7/2 First, Evens Anytime) to get on the scoresheet at some point, with the Reds’ back four looking as reliable as Oscar Pistorius’s. Whilst Not-So Super Mario has had a tough time so far, if you fancy him to come up trumps this weekend you can back him from 7/1 (First) and 21/10 (Anytime).
Oscar scored an absolute belter against QPR last weekend, and that was the second time that the Brazilian has scored the first goal in a game this season. If you fancy lightning to strike thrice against Liverpool you can back him from 8/1.
And whilst Steven Gerrard’s powers look to be on the wane as age catches up with him, he still takes a mean free-kick and penalty. With tackles flying in from this feisty Chelsea side, you can back Stevie G from 11/1 to bag first and 10/3 Anytime.
Fun Fact
If you’re the kind of punter that likes to do away with form guides and look to the past for answers, well, in the history of Liverpool v Chelsea ties at Anfield, the Reds have won nearly two-thirds (64%) of the encounters. The West Londoners have won just 14%.
Liverpool to win – get the best bookmaker bonus with Bet365, or best odds with Betfair fixed odds.