What would usually be billed as a high-stakes Premier League (PL) clash will have a very different feel this time around when Chelsea host Liverpool, with both teams struggling to salvage something from a disappointing league season thus far.
Chelsea not only bid farewell to manager Graham Potter after their dismal 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa but also seemingly kissed goodbye to their hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) via a top-four PL finish.
The Blues also have their poor recent record in midweek PL fixtures to contend with, having won just three of their last 13 such games (D6, L4).
Meanwhile, opponents Liverpool have won each of their last nine midweek PL games, a trend they could do with extending further having suffered five losses from their 11 PL fixtures in 2023 (W4, D2), which is already more than their total of four PL defeats across the entire 2022 calendar year (across two seasons).
Notably, each of those five 2023 PL losses were all away from home, and looking across the entirety of their PL campaign their eight away defeats (W3, D3) equals their tally from the prior three seasons combined.
Any points would therefore be welcome from their visit to Chelsea, and considering the last five H2Hs have all been drawn (after regulation time), a share of the spoils might not be viewed as a surprising outcome.
Players to watch: Chelsea’s Kai Havertz has scored four of his last five club goals at home, while Liverpool have never lost a game when Diogo Jota has gotten on the scoresheet.
Prediction: 1-0
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