Liverpool vs Chelsea predictions: Blues to put brakes on Mo and co

Steve Davies

Spotlight

Enzo Maresca has made a good start to live at Chelsea, having only lost to Manchester City in the Premier League so far

- Liverpool have conceded fewest goals this season
- Chelsea have won five straight Premier League away games
- Recommended bet: Draw

Liverpool's title credentials will be tested on Sunday when in-form Chelsea head to Anfield determined to prove their start to the season is no fluke.

Arne Slot's Reds boast the best defensive record in the division while free-scoring Chelsea have banged in 16 goals in six games since their opening-day reverse against Manchester City.

Team news

Ireland keeper Caoimhin Kelleher is expected to replace the crocked Alisson at the back of Slot's 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa, Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru Endo are doubts.

Enzo Maresca will have to reshuffle his back four with Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella both suspended.

Levi Colwill has played at left-back for Maresca although a recall for Renato Veiga is more likely. Tosin Adarabioyo or Axel Disasi are contenders to replace Fofana.

Reece James has returned to training after yet another lay-off though may not be involved.

The latest Liverpool vs Chelsea odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Arne Slot's Liverpool sit on top of the table with the Premier League's best defensive record.

Liverpool have conceded a league-low two goals this season and have the most clean sheets (five).

The Reds have won nine of 10 games played this season.

Chelsea have won all three away league games this season — five in a row continuing from last term — and are the division's second highest scorers (16) behind Manchester City.

Eight of the last nine league and cup meetings between Liverpool and Chelsea have been drawn at 90 minutes, while five of the last seven have not produced a single goal.

The latest Liverpool vs Chelsea odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Two teams in decent form meet in what feels like it ought to be a thriller but history tells us it usually is not.

Stalemates are par for the course when these two meet though Liverpool did buck a recent trend towards draws by battering Chelsea 4-1 on their last visit to Anfield in the league.

This Chelsea side looks a better one than the group Enzo Maresca inherited and while Liverpool seem like a winning machine, that 1-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest — admittedly their only dropped points to date — does stick out.

If there is value in LiveScore Bet's 90-minute markets, it could well be Chelsea given they have won all three road trips so far and have in Cole Palmer the league's outstanding attacking player.

But this fixture has been cagey for a while and may well be again which could bring yet another draw into play.

Certainly both sides are confident and with Mohamed Salah and Palmer leading the respective charges there is an abundant goal threat in each camp, although a seventh draw in eight meetings cannot be ruled out.

Back the draw at 16/5 with LiveScore Bet.