Liverpool and Chelsea both got back on track last time out after difficult starts to 2023.
A much-changed Liverpool team edged out Wolves 1-0 in the FA Cup on Tuesday night, while Chelsea defeated Crystal Palace by the same scoreline in the Premier League last weekend.
Chelsea have had a rare week between games and Graham Potter will be hoping to build on a hard-working performance against Palace.
Potter’s assessment was pretty honest after Chelsea rode their luck against their London rivals.
“Overall we played quite well, they had their moments as well but it was about getting the victory – park it as three valuable points against a team that was pushing as well,” said Potter.
It certainly was not a performance in which to get too confident from, as they head north to Anfield.
Potter has struggled to get any fluidity in his forward play and goals have been hard to come by. Only once in the last 10 games have the Blues been involved with an over 2.5 goals game and that was the heavy defeat at Brentford.
Chelsea are seventh in the away xG table (1.64), but Potter’s preference for Kai Havertz leading the line has yet to pay dividends.
Defensively Chelsea (xGA 1.5) have been sound enough and only Arsenal and Man City have a better xGA record away from home.
Liverpool (2.61) top the xG table at home, but they have conceded a number of goals at home to opposition from the lower reaches of the table and as Jamie Carragher said this week: “Liverpool are as bad defensively as anyone in the Premier League right now.”
It’s difficult to make a serious case for either club, but both teams to score has registered in six of Liverpool’s last seven games. And while Chelsea’s games have seen, pretty much the opposite, it’s reasonable to take Liverpool’s attack to breach Chelsea’s backline and the visitors’ attack to get through the Reds’ defence.
With that in mind, a draw could be the way to approach Saturday lunchtime’s clash – and a repeat of the last four games between the sides.
Key stats
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Liverpool’s last seven PL games
- There have been under 2.5 goals scored in six of Chelsea’s last seven PL games
- The last two meetings between the sides in all competitions have ended 0-0
- The last four meetings between the sides in all competitions have ended in draws
