ENGLAND: Premier League
Date: 28-08-21
Time: 17:30 PM
Venue: Anfield (Liverpool)
With both teams securing two wins, scoring five goals and conceding none in their opening two Premier League (PL) fixtures, a battle of undefeated PL heavyweights and title favourites awaits us on matchday three. In the red corner, a Liverpool side looking to avenge last season’s home loss to Chelsea, which set an all-time club record of five home league defeats in a row, which would later increase to six.
Those dark times have passed, however, with Liverpool dripping in confidence after winning their last seven PL games, the last four of which came ‘to nil’ while scoring at least twice. Should they repeat that trend here, they’ll become only the fourth PL side to win five or more consecutive games in such fashion. It won’t be easy of course, as two of the three prior sides were Chelsea teams of the past (August 2010 & November 2016).
Which brings us to the blue corner, as Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel prepares for his 16th meeting with compatriot Jürgen Klopp (W3, D3, L9) after besting him in the last two encounters. He’ll hope to prevent Liverpool from starting a PL campaign with three wins and no goals conceded for the third time in the club’s history, while the ‘Blues’ are looking to achieve that same feat for the fourth time in their PL history.
Chelsea have not had the best of the recent H2Hs however, winning just two of the previous 13 PL fixtures (L6, D5). That said, only Manchester United (12) can say they’ve won more times at Anfield than Chelsea’s seven in the PL era.
Players to watch: Liverpool’s #4 Virgil Van Dijk has never lost in his 48 PL appearances at Anfield for the ‘Reds’ (W43, D5), while his direct opponent, Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku, scored four goals in his first four PL appearances against Liverpool..
Recent Stats:
- Liverpool’s form in last 5 matches: WWWDW
- Chelsea’s form in last 5 matches: WWWDD.
PREDICTION: BTTS
