Chelsea vs Liverpool predictions: Blues may just have the edge

Ian Wilkerson

Spotlight

Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw in his first league game in charge

- Eight of the last 10 meetings have featured fewer than three goals
- Seven of the last eight meetings have finished as draws after 90 minutes
- Recommended bet: Chelsea to Win the Cup

The first silverware of the English season is up for grabs on Sunday when familiar foes Chelsea and Liverpool battle it out at Wembley for the Carabao Cup.

The Reds will be encouraged by the 4-1 victory they posted against the Londoners last month, but while Jurgen Klopp’s side have their eyes on four trophies this season, it is all about the cup for Chelsea, so the game is of crucial importance to them.

Team news

Defender Thiago Silva (groin) faces a late fitness test but Chelsea will definitely be without Marc Cucurella, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu and Wesley Fofana.

Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai will be given every chance to prove their fitness for Liverpool but Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones have joined Stefan Bajcetic, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara in a busy treatment room.

The stats

Mohamed Salah remains a doubt to face Chelsea on Sunday which will be a massive blow to Liverpool should he miss out

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three matches.

Liverpool’s last six games have all featured at least four goals.

Both teams have scored in each of Chelsea’s last five matches.

Seven of the last eight meetings have finished level after 90 minutes.

Eight of the last 10 games between these sides have featured fewer than three goals.

The latest Chelsea vs Liverpool odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

It is two years since Liverpool and Chelsea were involved in an epic penalty shootout in the Carabao Cup final and there looks a strong chance that they will be difficult to separate this time too.

It finished 11-10 to the Reds on that occasion after 120 goalless minutes and that was one of seven straight draws that preceded their 4-1 league win over the Londoners at the end of last month.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders have had a succession of injury problems to deal with in the last few weeks and while it is touch and go whether star forward Salah will be fit, they are already without a strong creative influence in Trent Alexander-Arnold as well as number one goalkeeper Alisson.

So this represents a great chance for Chelsea to finally have something to smile about after 18 months of Premier League frustration.

The Blues were outplayed at Anfield but have shown some mettle recently with wins at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, followed by a strong performance in a 1-1 draw at champions Manchester City which should have boosted their confidence levels.

Mauricio Pochettino's men arguably had the better of the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season, and with a recent history of stalemates between these two suggesting Sunday's game could go beyond 90 minutes, taking Chelsea to lift the trophy is well worth considering.

Back Chelsea to Win the Cup at 5/4 with LiveScore Bet.