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Pundits predictions: The Soccer Saturday give us their thoughts on Chelsea v Liverpool

Pundits Predictions: Chelsea v Liverpool - Soccer Saturday stars Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas & Matt Le Tissier discuss the Super Sunday showdown

By Billy Lumsden

Football

Sun September 22, 2019 · 5y ago

Ahead of Sunday's big game, Soccer Saturday's Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier give us their thoughts on Chelsea v Liverpool.

Charlie Nicholas

How can Chelsea worry Liverpool?

Chelsea can cause a threat with Tammy Abraham’s pace and movement. It looks like Mason Mount may miss out, but hopefully he doesn’t. People like Pedro and Willian will be needed here too - pace will trouble Liverpool. They will play it like a counter-attacking away game. Frank Lampard may be inexperienced in managing but he is not naive. He will play safety first and let the front three/four get on with it. They have pace and movement and I am not convinced by Liverpool’s defence at the moment. Mount would cause problems.

What is the key battle?

The weaknesses I see at Chelsea are at the back. Lampard played a back three against Valencia midweek and lost. I don’t know whether you could do that against this Liverpool front three. He must play a back four and use N’Golo Kante as the protector if he is fit.

You can get at Liverpool in midfield. Klopp is not sure on who he is picking. Jordan Henderson sometimes comes in, and I think he will for this clash, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been playing since returning from injury, James Milner started through the week at Napoli, and then there is Fabinho too. If you can get in behind the space in midfield, that is where you can work your magic. Abraham’s movement around the box is decent but Chelsea must capitalise on this and take control of the midfield battle to pin them back. Liverpool’s front three can win it at any time.

Would any Chelsea players get into the Liverpool team?

Mount would be a potential Liverpool player. He does want to play in an attacking role, but in time he could be that good, not at this moment in time. I have always liked Willian. If there was a way to squeeze him in midfield then I possibly would. Jorginho is not as good as Fabinho. The only one I could put in is Willian. I am not sure he has the same hunger or desire since a couple of transfer windows where his future has looked uncertain. On his day, Willian would get into the Liverpool team.

Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)

Phil Thompson

How can Chelsea worry Liverpool?

I think Chelsea are going to need everyone on the top of their game, and play to their potential. They played very well against Liverpool in the Super Cup. They did have N’Golo Kante in the team at this point. Frank Lampard went to three at the back, which seemed to get the best out of his players, particularly Marcus Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta who have struggled defensively in a four. Fikayo Tomori has been fantastic. I did the game against Wolves on Saturday and he was brilliant. It is a shame that Mason Mount will probably not be able to play in this game, and he will be sorely missed as he gives them an attacking threat. They needed a bit more of a goal threat from midfield and he gave them it. This is going to be a massive test for Liverpool. Both teams lost in the Champions League so they will both want to bounce back. It is Liverpool’s first real tough away game at a ‘big six’ side this season.

What is the key battle?

I think the key battle is going to be in the middle of the park. Liverpool could have the upper hand here. Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic do not possess the energy and strength of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum or James Milner. This is the key area in which Liverpool could overrun them and exploit.

Would any Chelsea players get into the Liverpool team?

With the current Chelsea players it is very difficult to see. Liverpool have shown and proven they are to be reckoned with throughout the whole of Europe. Some of the older and more experienced players are not as good as they were. If N’Golo Kante was fit, he would certainly get into Liverpool’s team. Antonio Rudiger will be a big miss for Chelsea, he could also have the potential to play for Liverpool. Joel Matip and van Dijk have been an incredible pairing at the back.

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)

Matt Le Tissier

How can Chelsea worry Liverpool?

I think it will be very difficult for them. With the form Liverpool are in at the moment, they may be too strong. Chelsea had a cracking win against Wolves, but the defeat to Valencia will have given them a knock. Mason mount’s injury will be a blow considering how good he has been. They are not without a chance but Frank Lampard would have preferred this fixture to come a couple of months later.

What is the key battle?

I think the biggest battle you have to win is keeping Liverpool’s front three quiet. The weakest part of Chelsea’s team is defence. They are conceding over two goals a game on average at the start of the season and that is where they must improve if they are to get anything out of the game. I do not think Andreas Christensen or Kurt Zouma will fare well against the front three. Will Antonio Rudiger be fit? If it was a precautionary substitute against Wolves last week, it will certainly be a boost to have him back.

It will be a different challenge for Fikayo Tomori against Liverpool, when playing against world-class strikers in the form of their front three. It was a terrific goal against Wolves and he did very well defensively. He played well for Derby last season and that is why he is in there - he is only 21 years of age. You don’t expect miracles at that age but there is still plenty of improvement left in him.

Would any Chelsea players get into the Liverpool team?

I would possibly say N’Golo Kante would be the only Chelsea player who would have any sniff of getting into the Liverpool team. On top form, he would get in and that would be about it, he hasn’t played or featured as much due to injury thus far as we know.

Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds 12/1)