Sure Prediction For Today, Wednesday 22nd July 2020

The Reds, in fact, have won only five of their last 13 fixtures in all competitions if you include their pre-postponement slump, and a couple of defensive howlers last week in their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, hinted that their players might have let their concentration levels slip with little left to compete for.

However, Wednesday’s title coronation should quickly re-sharpen any unfocused minds, and Liverpool, who are undefeated at Anfield this season, will be bent on putting in a statement performance to cap their home campaign in style this week.

Chelsea warmed up for their trip to Liverpool with a fine 3-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester United at Wembley Stadium to book their place in the competition’s final against London rivals Arsenal in two weeks’ time.

A couple of goalkeeping errors from ailing United stopper David de Gea and an own goal from skipper Harry Maguire made Chelsea’s task a relatively easy one, though the Blues looked a step ahead of their Manchester opponents for the vast majority of the contest.

While Chelsea’s semi-finial triumph should do wonders for their players’ confidence, the effects of fatigue on the Blues’ personnel could be stark. Frank Lampard’s charges enjoyed 48 hours more rest than United before Sunday’s tussle – and it showed.

However, Chelsea, who need another positive result to maintain their pursuit of a top four finish, now face suffering their own fixture congestion side-effects when they travel to play a Liverpool side who have enjoyed a week’s rest between games.

It’s not often you see Liverpool priced at evens or better to win a fixture at Anfield, and we think it’s worth taking advantage of the generous prices available by backing the Reds to win this week.

After dropping points in successive Premier League games for the first time this season in a draw with Burnley and defeat to Arsenal over the past couple of weeks, Liverpool has demons to exorcise on Wednesday, and the title-winning Reds will be doubly determined to land a victory to make their trophy presentation all the sweeter after full time.

Chelsea’s players will be running on empty after the Herculean effort they put in and the number of miles they put on the clock against Man Utd, and we expect the impact on their energy levels to be a major factor this week.

The Blues have also shown a vulnerability on the road of late, losing two of their last three Premier League assignments away from Stamford Bridge, while conceding a notable eight goals in total across that trio of skirmishes.

While Liverpool hasn’t been near their best since the restart, their record of two wins from three at Anfield since football’s return shows just how powerful a force they are on their own patch.

The Reds haven’t lost a Premier League match on home soil since April 2017 and has won 17 of their 18 league games there since August, we expect the champions to make Anfield advantage count again.

For correct score bettors, a 2-1 Liverpool victory looks an outcome worth backing. The Reds beat Chelsea with that scoreline in the club’s reverse league encounter in September and Liverpool hit exactly two goals when the teams faced off in last August’s European Super Cup and in their last league meeting at Anfield in April last year.

It’s worth noting, however, that both teams scored in 11 of the last 15 clashes between Liverpool and Chelsea in all competitions, and the Blues’ record of scoring in all but one of their last 10 Premier League run-outs strongly indicates they carry enough attacking threat to notch a consolation.

Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane has enjoyed plenty of goal-scoring success in recent appearances against Chelsea.

The rapid wide attacker scored both of Liverpool’s goals in their European Super Cup bout with Chelsea last August, and Mane also found the net the last time the Reds hosted the Blues at Anfield in April 2019.

On Wednesday, Mane – who bagged four goals in his last five Premier League appearances on Merseyside – could be deployed in direct opposition to promising Chelsea full-back Reece James.

The academy starlet was excellent in Chelsea’s 3-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester United on Sunday and kept the in-form Marcus Rashford uncharacteristically quiet at Wembley.

A repeat performance against Sadio Mane at Anfield would add to James’ growing reputation. Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson are still sidelined for Liverpool, while Dejan Lovren and James Milner are rated as doubtful.

Jurgen Klopp will want his team to finish on a high at Anfield, which in turn should mean Liverpool’s best possible XI is fielded on Merseyside this week.

Liverpool predicted line-up: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson – Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita – Salah Firmino, Mane

Fikayo Tomori and Billy Gilmour are out of contention for Chelsea, though Frank Lampard will hope to have N’Golo Kante back after injury. Christian Pulisic, who was only fit enough for the bench in Sunday’s semi-final, should return to the team. The Blue could choose to keep faith with the 3-4-3 formation that worked so well for them against Man Utd on Sunday.

Chelsea predicted line-up: Arrizabalaga – Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma-  James,  Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso – Willian, Pulisic, Giroud

Prediction: Our prediction is a home win or a draw for Liverpool.