Prediction: Liverpool vs Chelsea

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers denied his star men a chance to test their skills against Champions League holders Real Madrid for the sole purpose of seeing them in the best possible shape for the Premier League crunch tie against Chelsea. Even so, it is the Premiership leaders who are considered favourites to win at Anfield, and rightly so, if I may say.

It is still too early in the season for the outcome of this match to have any effect on the title chase, but the stakes will still be high when Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield. It was Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip in the same fixture last season that denied the Reds a chance to win their first league title after 24 years, and no doubt the captain, as well as his teammates, will be desperate to get revenge on their league rivals this time out. That could prove to be a very difficult task though considering that Liverpool have been unable to find the form that served them so well last term, while they remain toothless in attack without Suarez and Sturridge. Having failed to score in four of last five matches in all competitions, the Reds clearly face a mountain to claim against rock-solid Chelsea, despite the fact that the hosts should be in better shape due to Rodgers’ decision to rest his star players in midweek. The likes of Gerrard, Sterling, Balotelli, Lovren, Henderson and Coutinho are all set to be recalled, but Sturridge, Enrique, Sakho, Suso and Flanagan continue to miss out.

Jose Mourinho was unable to win the Premier League title immediately upon his return to Stamford Bridge, but he is almost certain to make things right this season. Backed by the club management, the Portuguese coach signed a number of high-quality footballers in the summer and with most of them fitting right in, the Blues have enjoyed a brilliant start to the new campaign. Chelsea are unbeaten in ten league matches and have a six-point cushion over reigning champions Manchester City, widely regarded as the only side that can challenge the Stamford Bridge outfit for the league trophy. The Blues have so far failed to win just two Premiership fixtures, away to Manchester rivals, but they were somewhat unfortunate as well as careless to let a one-goal lead slip in both of those games. Nevertheless, Chelsea go into their next league match in much better spirits than the opposition, and they will fancy their chances of winning at Anfield, especially now that star striker Diego Costa is back in contention and Eden Hazard has raised his form. Loic Remy and John Obi Mikel remain on the sidelines, but Cesar Azpilizueta has served a three-match ban.

Conclusion

Even when they were at their very best last term, Liverpool were beaten by Chelsea at home, and we cannot really expect the Reds to fare any better this time out. The Blues are on top of their game at the moment and I fully trust them to make another important step towards the Premier League title.

Verdict: Away win Chelsea (2)

Best Odds: 23/20

Bookmaker: William Hill