Chelsea – Liverpool, Premier League – Prediction

Chelsea will press high.

Ball control, high pressing, and aggressive play after losing possession are three of the key elements in Enzo Maresca’s philosophy. Chelsea returned to winning ways after their victory against Benfica, where they even managed to rest some of their main players such as Reece James and João Pedro, while those on the pitch clearly did not play at full intensity – perhaps keeping in mind the upcoming clash with Liverpool. Chelsea continue to struggle with injuries for yet another season – their star Palmer is currently out, and although there are more options in attack, the defensive situation is much worse – Colwill and Tosin are sidelined, while Chalobah will miss this clash due to the red card he received in Chelsea’s last Premier League match.

Liverpool need to get back on track.

The team suffered two consecutive defeats – against Galatasaray during the week and against Crystal Palace last weekend. From the very start of the season it has been evident that the team has not been fully convincing and definitely not at its highest level, and although in the first rounds they managed to secure three points (in most cases through late goals), their overall performance has not been optimal and the results against Galatasaray and Palace are no coincidence. To make matters worse, Alisson – their first-choice goalkeeper – picked up an injury, meaning they will be without him for this clash. Still, the team possesses tremendous quality in attacking positions, and we expect them to score at least once, given Chelsea’s personnel problems.

We are in for an exciting clash.

Both teams play attractive, attacking football. Both sides have huge ambitions and are aiming for the top. This is a very important psychological battle, coming right before the international break, which could prove crucial for the season of both teams. We expect goals in this match, as both sides have missing elements in defense and have shown weaknesses in this aspect of their game.