Liverpool vs. Chelsea: Odds, Game Lines and Predictions for Premier League Clash
Premier League leaders Chelsea will travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Saturday, a highly anticipated rematch of last year's end-of-season clash that ultimately saw the Reds miss out on the title after losing 2-0.
The Blues have started the 2014-15 campaign on fire and are still undefeated, while the hosts have struggled in recent weeks, finding themselves in seventh place, 12 points behind Saturday's opponents.
The Reds will have revenge on their minds, and ending the unbeaten run of Jose Mourinho's squad would certainly do the trick. Here are the game lines and odds for the match, courtesy of Oddsshark:
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| Chelsea Win | +150 | 3/2 |
| Liverpool Win | +190 | 19/10 |
| Draw | +262 | 131/50 |
Chelsea Will Park the Bus
The term "parking the bus" has gained popularity in recent years thanks to Mourinho's tendency to have his teams play defensively against top-class competition, driving fans of attacking football to madness.
The system has proven to be so effective the term has become associated with the Blues, and as soon as the squad employs somewhat of a counter-attacking style, fans of opposing teams accuse them of not playing "real football."
Mourinho insists his team won't be caught doing the same against the Reds, as reported by the Daily Express' Charles Perrin:
"Our intention is to win and when we have the ball, we have to try and score goals, he said. "It's the A.B.C of football. When we don't have the ball, we have to try and stop the opponent scoring."
Don't expect Chelsea to put 10 men after the ball and refuse to commit bodies forward, but do expect them to play solid, organised defence and aim for the counter. Also expect Liverpool fans to go mental and thrash Mourinho on social media for parking the bus once again.
Like the Italian catenaccio, parking the bus isn't the same as anti-football. It's a defensive strategy that takes full advantage of the pace the Blues have out wide, and any coach would be a fool not to use a winning system only to please the opposition.
Liverpool are young, hungry and attack-oriented. Those are the perfect conditions to exploit the team's lack of experience and defensive frailty. Hate Mourinho for doing it all you want—if the system wins you matches, there's no reason to ditch it.
Raheem Sterling Will Be Decisive
Raheem Sterling's fantastic 2014-15 season hit a speed bump in the first Champions League clash with Real Madrid, and the youngster has since failed to live up to his lofty standards. In the process, the Reds have struggled for creativity in the attacking third, looking slow and bland.
Brendan Rodgers didn't start the England international at the Bernabeu, and as the former Queens Park Rangers star returns to west London, he's primed for a breakout performance.
The 19-year-old knows it will be up to him to make the difference on Saturday—everyone's been talking about it all week. The Premier League's tactical expert Adrian Clarke chimed in on the league's official website:
"He is having more shots, creating a greater number of chances, and dribbling past players more than ever before. All Liverpool need to do is get him on the ball in dangerous areas more often.
When you compare his performances with Chelsea’s outstanding Eden Hazard and Oscar, the numbers are favorable for the Liverpool whizzkid. So imagine what he could produce if he received the same kind of service?
"
By moving Sterling back to a central role, the youngster's ability with the ball and raw pace will occupy the Blues' group of touted midfielders, taking away one of their biggest strengths.
Rodgers knows this, and he knows he can't give up the midfield battle and still expect a result on Saturday. Expect Sterling to be given the keys to the kingdom, serving as the focal point of Liverpool's attack. Win or lose, Sterling will be one of the most active players against the Blues.
Chelsea's Undefeated Run Won't End
Sorry, Reds fans. As talented as Liverpool may be, they won't be the club to halt Chelsea's run. Even with several key starters rested against Real Madrid, Rodgers' men still won't be favourites against the Blues for a reason.
I don't expect the visitors to run all over the Reds—in fact, I don't expect them to win at all. Between Diego Costa's lack of fitness and the subsequent less-than-convincing attacking performances, Chelsea don't look like the powerhouse that smashed opponents earlier in the season.
Mourinho confirmed Spain international Costa will start, per the club's Twitter feed:
But Chelsea still field the league's second-best defence, per WhoScored.com, while the hosts haven't scored in consecutive matches. The lack of movement in the attacking third is worrying, and Liverpool won't have the luxury of firing in cross after cross with Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic manning the flanks.
Liverpool are talented enough to overcome any team in the Premier League, but momentum clearly lies with Chelsea. Perhaps a challenge from a top club is exactly what the Reds need to flip the switch, but a betting man would be wiser to stick with the Blues.
Final Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
