Chelsea hosts Liverpool in its first big six clash of the season, but how have the Blues fared historically in this rivalry?
This weekend marks the first true test of the season as very few teams will pose this kind of threat to the new look Chelsea team. A season removed from winning the Champions League and the reigning Premier League Champions, there’s no denying this is an incredible Liverpool side. This is very much going to be a litmus test for the Blues to determine if they are truly title contenders or not as the season goes on.
However, after some research, this might not be the sort of match that will favor the Blues. It goes without saying that every match is different and every season is even more so, however, the history between Liverpool and Chelsea has been incredibly lopsided.
In the five clashes between the Merseyside Reds and west London Blues last year, it is the Scousers who prevailed on all but one occasion, amassing a total of 11 goals in all games. Could you blame this on a lack of a sturdy Chelsea defense? Probably. After the defensive performance at Brighton, there’s a chance that could change, but there’s still an element of risk of the Blues leaking goals here as they have done historically against Liverpool.
Chelsea have been able to find success going forward against the Reds of late. Scoring has not been a major issue with the London outfit successfully tallying eight goals in the previous four meetings. With Timo Werner looking as electric as he did in his debut for the club against Brighton, there’s a good chance that will continue. Goals haven’t been hard to come by recently for the club in general, even Reece James decided he wanted to have a crack at a Goal of the Year award.
Historically, it’s a very similar tale. In the 186 matches all-time between the two clubs, the Blues have come victorious on just 41 occasions. Liverpool has handed Chelsea 81 defeats and the other 64 have been drawn. You can say that in this battle of Liverpool red against London blue, it’s the team from Merseyside going through the purple patch. I refuse to apologize for that pun.
However, it’s been much closer as of late with Chelsea having won 18 of the last 50 matches, Liverpool being decisive in 17 and the other 15 being split between the teams. So, what does this history tell us? Do not move from your seat after kickoff on Sunday. This is a clash you do not want to miss because it’s almost certain to be an absolute cracker of a game. Two teams who you can barely split recently going blow for blow at Stamford Bridge. It’s certainly going to be a spectacle in Fulham this weekend.
Since this is a Chelsea based website, it’s only fair Liverpool’s most infamous slip up is mentioned. Going back to that faithful day in 2014: Steven Gerrard has just come off a post-game rant after Liverpool had secured a vital win against Manchester City in their hunt for the title screaming “we do not let this slip”. Chelsea would be the largest remaining obstacle between Liverpool and their craved title. Gerrard would slip, allowing Demba Ba in on Simon Mignolet. Ba would make no mistake, and the infamy of the Liverpool slip was born. I’m sure the Matthew Harding faithful will already have the chant going through their head. Let’s hope for more of the same on Sunday.
So what do you think: will Liverpool continue its successful run of form against the Blues or will Chelsea turn the tide and overcome the Reds? Will it be a split difference with the clubs claiming a draw? It’s a game with such a prospect on it, will definitely not be one to miss.