Chelsea vs Liverpool betting tips: Reds five-star attack to outscore Pochettino's work in progress
Liverpool FC during pre-season 2023
The first Super Sunday of the season sees Chelsea play host to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge and we’re backing the visitors to claim an efficient victory.
Mauricio Pochettino will take charge of Chelsea for the first time as they face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge live on Sky Sports.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Sunday, August 13, Kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event
Predicted score
Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Premier League betting tips
Bet: Liverpool to win
Chelsea vs Liverpool team news
The major news ahead of this match is that Chelsea will be without new star striker Christopher Nkunku (knee surgery) for several months, so Nicolas Jackson should start in his place.
Wesley Fofana (ACL) are Benoit Badiashile (groin) unavailable while Noni Madueke (hamstring) and Armando Broja (knee) are major doubts, limiting Chelsea in attack.
Visitors Liverpool are without Connor Bradley (hip) while this fixture could come too soon for Thiago Alcantara hip( and Stefan Bajcetic (groin) who are continuing their recovery.
New signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai will start in midfield for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Chelsea vs Liverpool betting preview
Chelsea and Liverpool haven't produced many classics in recent seasons. It's been drab. We've been treated to a visual feast akin to watching paint dry with four consecutive 0-0 draws.
Despite their failings in the fixture, Chelsea did produce an xG of 3.82 during last season's meetings, highlighting that their main issue has been scoring goals.
Liverpool were arguably second best in both fixtures, less so at Anfield, and failed to create a single Opta-defined big chance despite firing off 18 shots.
The lack of goals in this fixture hasn't been for the want of trying - it's been through a lack of offensive quality. Defensively, Chelsea were sound, however.
Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile produced some of their highest markets of the season during the 0-0 draws.
Chelsea's defence will have an entirely difference look to it this time with Levi Colwill likely partnering Axel Disasi in defence, the latter of whom is being thrown in at the deep end.
They'll be flanked by Ben Chilwell and Reece James, the latter of him is returning after a troublesome season full of injury woe.
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The midfield is far from the finished product with Moises Caicedo and/or Tyler Adams hopefully on the way to provide reinforcements.
The Blues are not lacking in quality, but they are lacking in depth and fielding new partnerships, in a new system, and under a new manager. Things will take time to gel.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have significantly strengthened with the additions of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. They'll also take time to bed in, but they're quality players.
Having the option of Mo Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz in attack gives them a dangerous quintet Chelsea could only dream of.
The hosts are likely to start the exciting pairing of Carney Chukwumeka behind Nicolas Jackson and it'll be interesting to see how dangerous they can be under Pochettino.
It would be foolish to write off Mauricio's men. We may be leaning towards the visitors to win, but with the caveat that we don't know how well Chelsea may perform under their new coach.
It's feasible they hit the ground running and the level of their performance allows them to match Liverpool, but their current squad on paper doesn't, and one side looks far more clinical.
The concern for Liverpool is that while they have the firepower, they've been wide open during pre-season and it looks inevitable they'll concede high-quality chances.
