Liverpool had to hold on tight for a win in its season opener against Leeds United last week. The newly promoted side gave the Reds all they could handle, battling back three times to tie the score after Liverpool pulled ahead. The Premier League champions needed an 88th minute penalty conversion from Mo Salah to avoid a disaster in their season opener at Anfield, and that has Chelsea thinking their Big Six counterpart is vulnerable. The Blues spent heavily in the offseason to make themselves competitive once more, and they looked the part in the opening week of action.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Stamford Bridge in London at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 20, 2020. Catch every moment of the match live on USA.
English Premier League Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea +215
Liverpool +118
Draw +277
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Chelsea made a lot of changes to their starting eleven with Roman Abramovich determined to make this team the best in England once more, and that led to an easy 3-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion in the season opener on Monday. The Blues shelled out almost $250 million for Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, and Hakim Ziyech, and manager Frank Lampard knows that there have been major improvements with those four at Stamford Bridge.
Werner failed to score in his Chelsea debut, but he made his impact felt throughout the match. He opened up Brighton’s defense with his back line runs, and he drew a penalty midway through the first half that put the Blues up 1-0. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks through with Havertz, Mason Mount, and Jorginho feeding him passes, and he has a very good chance at finding the back of the net against the Reds given what we saw from Liverpool in the first week.
Mo Salah was splendid for Liverpool last Saturday, netting a hat trick to ensure that the Reds grabbed all three points over the Peacocks. This attack was constantly pushing the pace and fired 22 shots against Leeds, but the issues on defense nearly led to a disappointing draw. Liverpool was beat multiple times by through balls sliding past their back four, so it will be interesting to see if Jurgen Klopp mixes up the scheme.
Virgil van Dijk found the back of the net, but he and Joe Gomez really had some issues in the center of defense. They will look to put those missteps behind them this week.
Key Injuries
Unfortunately for the Blues, they have the lengthiest injury report in the Premier League. Nine players are on the injury list ahead of this game, including summer signings Chilwell and Ziyech who both missed last week’s game against Brighton. Ziyech has been ruled out for this one, but Chlesea are hoping that Chilwell will be ready to take the pitch. Christian Pulisic is considered doubtful with a thigh injury that kept him out of last week’s match too.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long-term injury for Liverpool, but the Reds are healthy otherwise. Tough midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is considered questionable Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long-term injury for Liverpool, but the Reds are healthy otherwise. Tough midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is considered questionable after missing a stretch of time at the end of last season, while Konstantinos Tsimikas might be able to play after recovering from COVID-19.
Matchup to Watch
The midfield battle between these two elite clubs will be something to behold. N’Golo Kante has been the best defensive midfielder in the league for some time, and the young Havertz gives Chelsea an offensive phenom in the making. Meanwhile, Liverpool will bring their defenders up constantly with their high line, supporting Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita. Henderson is vital for the Reds here, as he is the key to so much.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Both teams will have plenty of chances, so the over is the best play.
English Premier League Odds: Chelsea 2, Liverpool 2
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
