Chelsea travels to Anfield for one of the most highly anticipated matches of the season. The Blues are not only looking to repeat recent success on the Liverpool grounds, but they’ll also be looking to get an advantage over the Reds in the race for the top four. This match is one between two familiar sides, and two even more familiar managers. Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp go back years and it’ll truly be a joy to see them competing against one another again, this time in the Premier League. It’s the Blues versus the Reds, Tuchel versus Klopp and top four contender versus top four contender.
This fixture last season produced an eight-goal thriller, while it may not be that entertaining this time around, there are still reasons for optimism. Here is how The Pride of London staff sees the match playing out:
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Michael DeVito: 1-2 Chelsea
This is just a wish. Liverpool is still a better club, but maybe a breakthrough in attack will finally emerge. A 4-2-3-1 tactical change might be the key.
Mike Malley: 0-1 Chelsea
There is a solid chance this match ends in a draw, but something just feels right for Chelsea at the moment. The Tuchel experience is off to a great start and a victory over last year’s champion would be huge in the race for the top four. Not sure where the goal will come from or how it will be scored, but the Blues need to take all three points.
Scott Brant: 1-1 Draw
I am aware Liverpool has lost its last four home matches, I still think the Reds come away with points. I hope I am wrong when I say I expect this to be a lot of bark and no bite. Chelsea gets a goal off a corner scored by a centerback.
Barrett Rouen: 1-2 Chelsea
I think we win, but the truth is, I think our defensive record is deceptive. Our defence gets by on luck a lot and I think Liverpool will create chances and the Reds will score at least one. Diogo Jota is back and the Reds are a much better version of themselves for this match.
Anthony Gatt: 1-2 Chelsea
Finally a game where there might be some goals. Liverpool is not one to defend the entire game like other teams the Blues have faced in the past two weeks. The Reds’ defensive issues are not a secret, so I believe the goals may come in moderation. Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud to give Chelsea a statement win.
Varun Dani: 0-2 Chelsea
Liverpool is one team that will not sit deep and wait for counters, it’ll go all out from the get go. That very approach will leave spaces behind, which the likes of Timo Werner could exploit. If there was ever a perfect game for Tuchel, this is it.
Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 1-1 Draw
Make no mistake, there’s no right time to play Liverpool at Anfield—it’s never a good time. Tuchel has gotten this team to be defensively solid while playing possession football, which is impressive. The team is still struggling to create chances though and that problem will likely rare its ugly head again. Chelsea has struggled against high pressing teams and that’s even more likely to happen now. Our attackers won’t see much of the ball, so our best hope is mounting lightning-quick counter attacks.
Gabe Henderson: 1-1 Draw
Every fiber of being wants to predict a win in this one, but I just can’t do it. The Blues are too stale in the final third and while it’ll be enough to sneak one by Liverpool’s makeshift defense, I don’t see two goals being scored by the visitors at the moment. It’ll be another disappointing draw during a weekend in which many of Chelsea’s top four foes dropped points.
Abhishek Pancholi: 0-1 Chelsea
A classic Jose Mourinho style game. Chelsea arrives in its bus, Werner steps out, scores a goal, sprints back into the bus and Tuchel drives the bus to the front of the Blues’ goal where it remains parked for the rest of the 90 minutes.
Nate Hofmann: 1-1 Draw
Much like the Manchester United match, both teams have too much to lose, so neither team will be at their attacking best. With Leicester and United both dropping points midweek, a draw isn’t a huge problem, but it will feel like a missed opportunity for both sides.
Kevin Peacock: 0-0 Draw
I’m not expecting much from this game. Poor recent form from the Reds, matched by dour Blues possession, results in a stalemate.
Olly Smith: 2-1 Liverpool
It’s never easy against the former champions and their patchy run of form changes little. Klopp and Liverpool will raise their game, just like they did for their Champions League game. With an offence that doesn’t quite click just yet and still no Thiago Silva, Liverpool will have a much easier task. That said, there has never been a better time to take a swing at the king than now.
Tan Yi Hao: 0-2 Chelsea
Fine margins has been a recurring theme when watching Chelsea play under Tuchel thus far. Against United, Giroud was inches away from converting Hudson-Odoi’s cross into a goal and Hakim Ziyech was likewise unlucky to not have scored. Should the finer, minute details finally come together for the Blues, expect a convincing win to come along soon—perhaps even as soon as Thursday’s game against the reigning champions.
What is your score prediction? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!