With Chelsea (25-8-2, 83 Points) having already wrapped up the EPL title, there could be some hope for Liverpool (18-7-10, 61 Points) to get into the Champions League fray with some good fortunate at the Bridge.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The oddsmakers are definitely giving Liverpool a shot in this match. The Blues are set at +111 on the moneyline, but this is definitely a forgiving line considering how dominating they have been at home.
Liverpool is just +285 to win this match SU, and they are +0.5 (-131) on the Asian handicap.
The total is rather par for the course at 2.5 (under -135), as a tactical match is definitely expected.
KEY INJURIES
Diego Costa, Chelsea's best offensive weapon, probably won't be back in the fold for the rest of the year for the Blues. He has been dealing with a hamstring problem for weeks, and it would be better for Chelsea to just leave him be for the rest of the year to fully recover.
Liverpool remains without long-term absentees Mario Balotelli, Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Sturridge, all of which could be out for the remainder of the season as well.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's not over yet. We can still finish in the top four, but we need to take maximum points now. We'll keep fighting right to the end. We all know what can happen. United have some tough games to play, and I am sure they will drop more points." – Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana on the chase for the Champions League
RECENT FORM
The Blues have won consecutive matches and have taken at least one point from 17 matches in a row since that epic failure at home against Bradford City in the FA Cup. As a result, they have locked up the Premier League title, which makes this their first of three de facto throwaway games to close out the year.
Liverpool will probably rue the day that it lost at Hull City and Aston Villa in April, but all hope isn't lost yet. The team was much better against QPR at home last weekend and earned a win, something it will have to do a lot of down the stretch to have a chance of challenging Manchester United for that last Champions League spot.
TALKING TOTALS
Chelsea more or less played its game against Crystal Palace last weekend. The Blues were tactical, dominated possession, didn't make mistakes, and got their one goal to win the match. That's par for the course for a Chelsea match, as four of its last five have featured just one Blues goal.
Liverpool's match against QPR was its first over match in three tries. Prior to that, the team had gone over 200 minutes without scoring a goal.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We equate what Chelsea has largely done this year to what Floyd Mayweather did against Manny Pacquiao last weekend. The Blues are going to sit back, play a tactical match and strike only when needed.
The good news for Chelsea fans is that that strike just isn't needed any longer. With Diego Costa out and no consistent offensive weapons still left with anything to prove, we expect to see Jose Mourinho just try to get out of these last three fixtures without any long-term injuries.
This will play into the hands of Liverpool, which badly needs to play for all three points. Though it would be nice to see Steven Gerrard log a big goal in his last match at Stamford Bridge, we don't think that anything is coming for either side on this day, a result which could eliminate the Reds from Champions League contention depending upon what Man U does on Saturday.
Chelsea 0, Liverpool 0
BookMaker has live Barclays Premier League odds for every clash of the season. BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Chelsea opened as a +111 favorite. The first offering of the total came in at 2.5 (under -135). Live wagering during the match offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer match now!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between Chelsea and Liverpool will take place on Sunday, May 10, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Stamford Bridge. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.
