Adrian Humphries’ selections for Sunday’s Premier League clash at Anfield include a win for the hosts with goals at both ends.
Liverpool will look to maintain their spot at the top of the Premier League table when they host Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.
With the second international break of the 2024/25 season behind us, Liverpool and Chelsea will get the chance to build on their impressive form.
The Reds have won six games in a row in all competitions, losing only once this season to Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea are unbeaten in seven matches under Enzo Maresca but Sunday’s encounter will be their biggest test since they lost 2-0 to Manchester City on the opening weekend.
Best bets
Liverpool to win and both teams to score
13/8
Chelsea -1 card handicap
21/20
Cole Palmer to have 2+ shots on target: Boosted to
4/1
Reds should be tough to beat at Anfield
While Liverpool’s sole defeat this season came at Anfield, Arne Slot’s side have built some solid foundations on Merseyside.
The Reds have won four in five at Anfield, keeping a clean sheet in three of those encounters in all competitions.
Liverpool have kept six clean sheets in 10 competitive matches this season, and they have scored at least two goals in eight of those outings.
Chelsea have been ticking along nicely under Maresca, but they have kept only two clean sheets in seven top-tier matches.
Like Liverpool, Chelsea have found their feet in front of goal, netting 17 times in five matches.
Reds goalkeeper Alisson will miss Sunday’s game due to injury so the Blues should be able to find the back of the net at least once, but the visitors are likely to have their work cut out as Liverpool could well take control of the match and pressurise Chelsea for the majority of the game.
Liverpool have won six of their seven Premier League matches and look to have settled down well under Slot.
Blues to leave their mark at Anfield
With Liverpool expected to dominate possession and have the lion’s share of chances on Sunday, Chelsea are likely to be focused on avoiding defeat.
Maresca will be happy to see his team concede cheap free-kicks if it means slowing down Liverpool’s rampant attack, and they have already shown through the first few weeks of the campaign that they are happy to pick up cards.
Chelsea have been shown 27 yellow cards in seven games this season, three more than any other top-flight side.
Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are both suspended after each receiving five yellows, so their replacements have the chance to get stuck in at Anfield with few consequences.
Palmer to lead Chelsea’s charge
Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has scored more goals than Cole Palmer this season, with the Chelsea ace having found the net six times in seven appearances.
His tally has been equalled only by Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo – and Palmer remains one of Chelsea’s key players, if not their most potent attacking weapon.
In the seven games in which he has appeared, Palmer has hit the target with 11 of his 24 shots, averaging 1.66 shots on target every 90 minutes.
With Alisson absent, Palmer may try his luck from distance on more than one occasion, and his price to hit the target several times offers plenty of value considering his role in the team.
No other Chelsea player has registered more shots than Palmer this season and the England international should be full of confidence heading into Sunday’s Anfield clash.
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