Chelsea v Liverpool: The Reds’ Last Stand?

When Liverpool edged Manchester City in an intriguing 1-0 win at Anfield on New Years’ Eve, the Reds moved within six points of league leaders Chelsea and made a clear statement of intent surrounding their title ambitions.

Fast-forward three weeks, however, and Liverpool are preparing for a must-win clash with Antonio Conte’s Blues at Anfield on 31st of the month. Winless in three Premier League games since beating City, Jurgen Klopp’s side lost at home against Swansea last time out and are now a staggering 10 points behind the rampant West London club.

So will they rekindle their dwindling title ambitions on a passionate night at Anfield, or is this game set to be Liverpool’s last stand?

Why Chelsea are the Logical Favourites for the Game

From an objective viewpoint, Chelsea are the clear the favourites for this game. The bookmakers have them priced at 39/19 to win, for example, while the Blues have also responded impressively after Tottenham ended their 13-game winning sequence in the New Year. In contrast, Liverpool are on a run of just one win in seven games across all competitions, including a 0-0 draw against Plymouth in the FA Cup and two 1-0 defeats against Southampton in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Jurgen Klopp’s men can hardly take solace from their performances either, as the Reds have lost much of the attacking flair that characterised their goal-laden displays earlier in the season. Now seemingly weary and missing the express pace of Sadio Mane (who is currently representing Senegal at the African Cup of Nations), their unconvincing defence is coming under increased pressure and beginning to leak goals at a rapid rate.

If this summarises the case for a Chelsea win, however, there are other factors which suggest that Liverpool could well scupper the Blues’ charge. The Reds have an incredible record against their top six rivals under Klopp, for example, having won three and drawn three of their encounters so far this season. This includes an impressive 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, when a struggling Chelsea side could live with the Reds’ pace, pressing and one-touch attacking play.

Then there is the crowd factor, which should never be discounted when travelling to Liverpool. After all, Anfield is a difficult enough place to visit at the best of times, let alone during an evening game when the atmosphere is intensified. Throw in the fact that the game is now a must-win encounter for Liverpool, and it is possible to view the contest in an entirely different light. Make no mistake, the Blues will be in for a tough game, while the Anfield crowd could yet play a huge role in the outcome of the game.

Our Verdict: Why Klopp May Just Come Up Trumps

While our heads say Chelsea, our instincts tell us that Liverpool will respond to the challenge and grind out a win that keeps their title hopes alive. While those of you are more risk averse may favour backing the draw at 12/5, the nature of the game makes it highly uniquely that we will see anything other than a decisive result one way or another.