The Big Match: Liverpool v Chelsea Premier League betting guide

TV details

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Odds

8-13 Liverpool general
9-2 Chelsea bet365
16-5 Draw Betfair

Form

Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League after coming from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 last week and followed that with a far more comfortable 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg success over Porto at Anfield on Tuesday.

Jurgen Klopp's side will no doubt be comforted to stay on Merseyside as the Reds have dropped points in just two Premier League home matches this season - draws against Manchester City and Leicester.

Chelsea, who are long since out of the title race but remain desperate for a Champions League spot, moved up to third with a deserved 2-0 triumph over West Ham on Monday when Eden Hazard delivered one of the best individual displays seen this season.

It made it three league wins in a row which is Chelsea's best run of Premier League results since Maurizio Sarri's side opened the campaign with five straight victories.

Tactics

Liverpool's front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and former Blue Mohamed Salah nearly always start, while Jurgen Klopp has also been consistent with his defensive selections.

The key debate is how the German balances his midfield. Jordan Henderson and James Milner were criticised for their performances in the sneaky 2-1 victory over Tottenham before both delivered telling contributions off the bench at St Mary's.

Fabinho is Liverpool's best defensive anchor, leaving two spots between Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and the slow-starting Naby Keita, who has now scored in his last two appearances.

Don't be surprised if Hazard is used as a false nine by Sarri having adopted those tactics twice against City this season, first when they beat the champions 2-0 and then in the 0-0 draw in the Carabao Cup final.

The other occasion saw Chelsea lose 6-0 at the Etihad and natural number nine Gonzalo Higuain's three league goals this term have come against relegated duo Huddersfield and Fulham.

Injury news

Andy Robertson returns from a European ban and Adam Lallana is also expected to be available for Liverpool following a minor knock.

Marcos Alonso is back in training for Chelsea, who had no significant injuries before their Europa League tie in Prague on Thursday.

Verdict

It was in this fixture in April 2014 that Liverpool's last title charge ended in agony as Steven Gerrard's infamous slip gifted Chelsea victory but the Reds are on a safer footing these days.

Chelsea have lost by at least two goals on their league visits to City, Spurs and Arsenal and they conceded 23 shots on target in those losses. 3-1 Liverpool.

Key stats

• Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 37 Premier League matches at Anfield
• The front three of Salah, Firmino and Mane have scored 47 league goals between them this season
• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight visits to Anfield in all competitions with the last three in the league finishing 1-1
• The Blues have lost five of their six league away games to top-half teams, beating only tenth-placed Watford

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