Premier League betting – Liverpool vs Chelsea odds

Liverpool vs Chelsea betting preview

Billed as the title decider, Chelsea visit Anfield on Sunday in what will be a real test of their title credentials. The Blues’ are just two wins away from ending Manchester United’s three-year stranglehold on the domestic front but Liverpool won’t make it easy for them with fourth place still up for grabs. The West Londoners enjoyed a Champions League win on Merseyside last season and they are odds on to repeat this feat at 10/11, the Reds are a generous 7/2 while the draw chalks up at 14/5 with Bet365.

Diego Forlan’s extra time strike sent Rafa’s men tumbling out of the Europa League on Thursday despite winning 2-1 on the night. Following this exit Benitez has refused to commit his long term future to the club he joined in 2004, but this defeat summed up a disastrous campaign for a team that finished runners-up in the Premier League last term. The Anfield club remain hopeful of finishing fourth but results must go their way if they are to do so and one might argue they are playing for pride now.

A staggering 18 points separates the two teams going into Sunday’s Sky live clash but it will be the first time since the 2003/2004 season that Liverpool and Chelsea will only meet each other twice. The previous five seasons have seen the two clubs clash 24 times with Liverpool completing a famous double over their London rivals last season. The omen does look good for Rafa’s side however, in 66 meetings with Chelsea at Anfield, they have won 40, lost just 8 and drawn 14 scoring almost one hundred and fifty goals in the process.

If Chelsea pick up maximum points in this one, it is hard to see Manchester United preventing the title returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since the 2006/2006 season. United travel to Sunderland in the late kick off on Sunday and will head into this one in the knowledge of the Chelsea result. And should the Blues fail to win, United can return to the summit if they pick up all three points in the North-East.

The Blues have had a week to prepare for this match while Liverpool’s involvement in the Europa League on Thursday night may give Chelsea the slight advantage. The pair last met in early October, Chelsea ran out 2-0 victors that day at the Bridge and after running riot against Stoke last time out they head into this one full of confidence. So expect there to be goals at Anfield, there have been 22 goals between the two sides in their last six meetings in all competitions.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches winning three and drawing two and have gone ten games unbeaten at Anfield. But if Liverpool fail to beat Chelsea they will finish the season with lowest points total in five years. Didier Drogba heads the market for first goal scorer in this one at 7/2 with SkyBet but Frank Lampard seems to have rediscovered his goal scoring form of late and is an attractive 13/2 to break the deadlock with Paddy Power. Liverpool will once again be without Fernando Torres so Dirk Kuyt is next best to grab the opener and the Kop into jubilation at 8/1.

It might be a good bet to ebb on the side of caution with this one and take the 14/5 being offered for the draw. With so much riding on this game, expect a very open game with goals aplenty. The 2-2 draw is a longshot at a massive 20/1 with Stan James. This fixture has been riddled with controversy in previous years, Alan Wiley could be in for a busy afternoon and a sending off in the match is a creditable 13/5 with Betfred.

So will Carlo Ancelotti take the penultimate stride towards a maiden Premier League title? Or will Liverpool put a serious dent in the Blues’ title challenge and keep alive their hopes of finishing fourth?

By Mikey Mumford

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