English Premier
2010-05-02 - Liverpool vs Chelsea
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : England : Premier League
Sunday 2nd May 2010 - Kickoff 1:30pm
This game is shown live on SkySports in the UK
Liverpool
Liverpool had their final chance of picking up some silverware this season extinguished at the hands of an ex-Manchester United player, and now the team from up the M62 will be hoping for a favour from their bitterest rivals.
The chance of fulfilling Rafa Benitez' guarantee of finishing 4th may have been put to rest for good on Saturday with wins for both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. This leaves Liverpool in 7th. 5 points behind Spurs with 2 games left this season. They have been guaranteed Europa League football for next season after Everton dropped 2 points at Stoke City.
Liverpool are 13-3-2 at Anfield in the Premier League this season, scoring 43 goals and conceding just 13. This means the side have one of the stronger home defences in the League and they will be looking to expand their unbeaten run at home further from the 12 games it stands at the moment in all competitions. Liverpool have won 11 of those games and they have only conceded 1 goal their last 6 at Anfield within 90 minutes.
Fernando Torres is out for the rest of the season while David Ngog is unlikely to return for this game with a back injury. This means Ryan Babel will start up front. Maxi Rodriguez is available after being cup-tied on Thursday night but Martin Skrtal, Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio remain sidelined.
Chelsea
Chelsea must feel if they can pick up 3 points here at Anfield that they will go on and win the Premier League this season. After seemingly having the title on their plate earlier last month, a surprise defeat at Tottenham meant they only have a 1 point lead over Manchester United as we enter the last 8 days of the season.
The Blues have a vastly superior goal difference compared with United although that is now unlikely to prove the difference. Carlo Ancelotti will have kept his side focused knowing 2 wins from their last 2 games will ensure the title goes back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2006. Chelsea will need to rely on their 9-4-5 record away from home this season where they have scored 33 goals and conceded 18. Only United have won more away games this season.
Chelsea have a 6-1-1 record in all competitions since being knocked out of the Champions League to Inter Milan. They bounced back from the defeat at Spurs to score 7 in a romp over Stoke to reclaim the lead of the League one day after United had moved to the top. Chelsea are 3-2-3 in their last 8 away games in all competitions.
John Terry will return to the side after being suspended last week and Ashley Cole is also available. Didier Drogba will continue to make himself available even though he has a hernia problem.
Head to Head
Liverpool and Chelsea seemed to meet 4 times a season for a little while as they regularly encountered one another in the Champions League.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 3 Premier League games at Anfield against the Londoners, winning 2 of those games, and they have only lost 1 game in their last 5 at home against Chelsea in all competitions. That defeat was in their Champions League clash last season.
Chelsea lost both League games with Liverpool last season, but have beaten the Reds 2-0 at home earlier this season.
Prediction
Liverpool might not have a lot of incentive to win this game, but there can be no doubt that the side will be professional enough to try and get the win in their last home match of the season. The side has proven all year that they are tough to beat at Anfield and could punish Chelsea if the Blues go a little gung ho.
Chelsea know this is the biggest hurdle left in front of them if they are to claim the Premier League title. Carlo Ancelotti puts his 5/5 record against the 'big 4' on the line and his side have only conceded 1 goal in those previous meetings this season.
This is a really hard game to call, but I have been attracted by the price of Evens or better that Liverpool avoid defeat. Only 2 English sides, Arsenal and Aston Villa, have won here within 90 minutes this season, and there will be a sense of pride on the line for Liverpool. However, I have some nagging doubts about picking this.
The rumours surrounding Rafa Benitez does complicate things, but I am sure the Spaniard would like to at least sign off at Anfield with a positive note this season and time will tell if it is his last game as manager there or not.
The first goal here could be crucial and for that reason I will pick the option of the first goal coming after 26 minutes as my recommended bet. I can see both sides being a little cautious at first with so much on the line, especially for Chelsea, and I think the away side will be happy to keep Liverpool at bay before taking control.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
BEST BETTING TIP :
Bet on First goal after 26 minutes @ 1.91 (Paddy Power)
