The Pressure`s On Liverpool To Dispatch Chelsea

Faltering Liverpool will do well to take points from unbeaten Chelsea at Anfield in tomorrow`s early kick off (Saturday 8th November 12:45), the Merseyside club without a win in two games in all competitions. Reds` boss Brendan Rodgers caused controversy amongst fans and pundits alike after fielding a second-string team for the side`s important Champions League encounter against Spanish giants Real Madrid. Despite the wholesale changes, Liverpool managed to compete at the Bernabeu, the two sides only being separated by a single Karim Benzema effort. The result secures Carlo Ancelotti`s side`s qualification through to the knockout stages of the tournament and leaves the English side with two games to steal the last remaining place off Swiss club FC Basel.

Back in the Premier League, a late goal from Ayoze Perez meant that Newcastle United continued their march up the table at the expense of Rodgers` runners-up who seem unable to recapture the blistering form of last season. A loss against Chelsea would see seventh-placed `Pool a substantial 15 points off the title pace and pile more pressure on their Northern Irish manager who seems evermore a victim of his own success. Despite remaining undefeated in all competitions, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told of his displeasure after seeing his side have to come from one goal down to draw against Champions League minnows Maribor during the week.

A relatively strong Blues eleven couldn`t stop the Slovenian champions from grabbing the opening goal not long after the second half whistle and needed a Nemanja Matic toe-poke to share the spoils. Chelsea would`ve received their pass through to the competition`s second stage should Eden Hazard`s have converted the penalty he missed late on.

Last time out in the Premier League, Mourinho`s men followed up their one-all draw against established rivals Manchester United with a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers. Hazard successfully scored his penalty half-way through the second half to steal the points for the three-time Premier League champions as Charlie Austin equalised following Oscar`s opener.

With recent form in mind, the away side are the 5/4 favourites with Betvictor, Bwin and Stan James to travel back to London with all the available points. A home win can be backed at 13/5 with bet365 and boylesports whilst a draw is available at 5/2 with most bookmakers. Last season`s unlikely success story and former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is still sidelined after sustaining a calf injury more than three weeks ago. Reds fans will be buoyed by the news that their young star will be available for selection after the international break for his team`s game against strugglers Crystal Palace. As a consequence, the inconsistent Mario Balotelli is set to reclaim his place leading the line, fresh from being rested in Madrid. The Italian is 15/2 (betfair, Spreadex) to break the deadlock and is 13/5 with Spreadex to score at any time. The home team will still be without their trio of long-term absentees defenders Jose Enrique, Jon Flanagan and Mamadou Sakho. A memorable performance against Cristiano Ronaldo has seen Kolo Toure stake a claim to one of the back three spots usually occupied by Glen Johnson, Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel. With Chelsea having scored in all of their previous games this season, the Liverpool defence are a massive 10/3 (Spreadex) to keep a clean sheet and 11/5 (Coral, Skybet) to win to nil.

These generous odds are thanks to the awe-inspiring displays produced by Chelsea`s new talismanic striker Diego Costa, having scored nine goals in ten games despite not being at full fitness. With Loic Remy out, Costa is a certain starter and is 9/2 (Spreadex) to net the game`s initial goal.

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07/11/2014     © Frixo 2026