Prediction: Eden Hazard first goalscorer
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Liverpool will be given a severe test of their title credentials on Sunday evening as they take on Chelsea at Anfield.
The Reds come into the game on Merseyside two points clear at the top of the Premier League table, albeit having played a game more than closest challengers Manchester City. Elsewhere, Chelsea are sitting in fourth and are battling to gain a UEFA Champions League place ahead of next season so a win against Jurgen Klopp s troops would be a huge boost.
Liverpool
The Reds come into the clash on the back of a stunning run of form. They have won their last six games in succession including the mid-week Champions League stroll against FC Porto. That win against the Portuguese outfit was the team s first clean since a 0-0 draw against Everton at the beginning of March. Their form on home soil should also give them plenty of optimism. In all competitions this season, the Merseysiders have only lost one game at home but that came against this weekend s opponents Chelsea in the League Cup back in September. Despite having gone undefeated at Anfield in the Premier League this season, Manchester City can still boast a better home record than Liverpool having claimed 48 points from only 17 matches.
If the Reds manage to avoid defeat against the Blues this weekend, it would make it two calendar years undefeated for the Reds an extremely impressive record most would argue.
Team News
Klopp could have a boost within his ranks for the game with Adam Lallana set for a possible return. The England midfielder has been out with a muscle injury. Despite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having stepped up his recovery from a long-term injury, he is likely to be out for at least another week.
Chelsea
Despite the doubts over current Blues boss Maurizio Sarri s future beyond the end of the current campaign, the Italian appears to be stringing together a useful run of results recently. Chelsea have won their last four matches, including the midweek win over Slavia Praha in the UEFA Europa League. As a matter of fact, the Londoners now have the opportunity to notch four Premier League wins in a row for the first time since September. The wins have also seen Chelsea chalk-up back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League, something they have also not done since the conclusion of the 2017/18 campaign. One aspect that does count against them though is their recent record against the top-six . Against the so-called bigger clubs in the Premier League, the Blues record has been poor, with their last win coming against Tottenham Hotspur at back in August 2017.
Team News
Sarri almost has a fully-fit squad to choose from with only Ethan Ampadu suffering from injury. Eden Hazard is likely to star against Liverpool once again having notched two goals in Chelsea s victory over West Ham United in the Blues last Premier League outing.
Key Facts to Consider
Liverpool have the better all-time record between the two sides (W77, D41, L63)
The last match between the two ended 1-1
The Reds have not beaten Chelsea since September 2016
Against no other side has Eden Hazard scored more goals than against Liverpool throughout his career
The Reds have not beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge since a 4-1 win in May 2012
Conclusion
It goes without saying that both sides really could do with a vital three points on Sunday for differing reasons. Should the Reds collect a victory, it would go a long way in strengthening their cause for their first-ever Premier League crown. Nonetheless, they have found previous clashes against Chelsea at Anfield extremely tricky which could tip the balance in the Blues favour.
Prediction: Eden Hazard first goalscorer
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