Chelsea vs Liverpool Picks and Predictions: Salah Chops Through Chelsea Defense

We’ve got a midweek slate of Premier League games this week, with postponed games earlier in the season being rearranged for now. The pick of those is Tuesday’s Chelsea vs Liverpool fixture, which should be a fascinating one in Stamford Bridge.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool have failed to reach expectations this season, but there’s still time to finish strong, and supporters will be hoping for a win on Tuesday that will hopefully kickstart their season. Don’t miss our Chelsea vs. Liverpool picks and predictions for Tuesday, April 4.

Chelsea vs Liverpool best odds

Chelsea vs Liverpool picks and predictions

There’s only one thing better than getting weekend Premier League action, and that’s having bonus games midweek. This week we have a number of extra games, all rearranged from postponements earlier in the season. The pick of this bunch has be Chelsea vs Liverpool, a blockbuster game on Tuesday that would be must-watch viewing regardless of what day of the week it is.

It’s been a tough season for each club, and both Chelsea and Liverpool come into this game on the back of very disappointing defeats on Saturday. Chelsea lost 2-0 to Aston Villa at home, and Liverpool came into this on the back of a heavy 4-1 loss to Man City.

The inconsistency behind both of these teams is exactly why it’s very hard to back either of them to win, so instead of that, we’ll back something that we can rely upon a lot more. We’ll be banking on Liverpool’s Egyptian star Mohamed Salah to score, something that some sportsbooks are offering at a very generous +200.

The 30-year old hasn’t been at his best this year, scoring just 12 goals in 27 Premier League games, but it’s worth noting that he’s scored another 10 goals in other competitions for Liverpool this year. Across the past three seasons, he’s scored 23, 22, and 19 goals in the Premier League.

Despite having a poor season by his brilliant standards, Salah comes into this game in great shape from a goal-scoring perspective. He found the back of the net against Man City on Saturday, and in his last 11 across all competitions for club and country, he’s scored eight times.

He’s still Liverpool’s best player — leading the team in both goals and assists — and when he’s at his best, Liverpool inevitably do well. He’s been streakier this season than last year, but he has scored in each of the last three games for both Liverpool and Egypt. 

Salah is second in terms of shots per game for Liverpool, trailing only Darwin Nunez. However, three shots per game is still impressive, and he has had so many decisive moments for Liverpool in recent seasons.

Salah will be facing off against Ben Chilwell at left wing, and there’s a good chance that it’ll be Marc Cucurella on the left side of the back three. That’ll be a matchup which Salah would relish, and he could attack the Spaniard with his guile and directness. 

Erling Haaland might have spoiled us into thinking there are strikers who score nearly every game, but they are rare. Although Salah isn’t quite that prolific, he is still one of the very best in the Premier League at finding the back of the net. Getting odds of +200 on the Egyptian scoring against this inconsistent Chelsea team is a wager that you really have to take. 

My best bet: Salah to score (+200 at bet365)

Chelsea vs Liverpool side analysis

We’ve seen Chelsea playing a form of 3-4-3 under Graham Potter, with three central defenders supported by two wing backs, with two central midfielders and two forwards supporting either Joao Felix or Kai Havertz, who have been deployed as a false nine. 

Injuries have been an issue for Chelsea all season, and although Potter has questions to answer, he hasn’t been helped by the general poor levels of fitness in his squad. The team have looked better with Ben Chilwell and Reece James at wingback, but they have struggled to get a consistent back three. They had to move James into RCB against Aston Villa alongside Kalidou Koulibaly and Cucurella, who really struggled. 

It’ll be interesting to see who Chelsea play on the right side of the attack, but it would make sense to put Mykhailo Mudryk and his electric pace up against Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool will, as always, be sent out in their usual 4-3-3, a system that has served Jurgen Klopp brilliantly in the past. The back four of Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Alexander-Arnold is one which has struggled this year, but might fancy themselves against a Chelsea team who have faltered in front of goal this season.

In midfield we’ll see Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, most likely with Harvey Elliott alongside them. The front three will see Salah on the right with Cody Gakpo and one of Darwin Nunez (fitness permitting) and Diogo Jota.

It’s hard to pick between the two teams, and both have been equally awful and equally brilliant at times during the season. The odds between both teams are incredibly close too, which shows just how much of a pick’em this is. 

If I was pushed, I’d feel more confident with my money on Liverpool at +170. But I can get better odds on a Salah goal, something which feels both more likely and safer at the same time.

Chelsea vs Liverpool Over/Under analysis

When it comes to the total, it’s Over 2.5 goals that is the favorite, with the Over coming in at -120.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in nine of Liverpool’s 14 games away from home this season, and given the issues they have in terms of conceding goals — as well as possessing a lot of talented attackers — you could argue for it happening again.

However, if you look at Chelsea’s total goals at home, you’d then talk yourself into backing the Under. Nine of their past 14 have all seen Under 2.5 goals, with all nine of those coming in their last 10. 

The stats are pretty balanced on both sides, and I would recommend avoiding this market altogether. If you’re insistent, then I’d probably suggest backing the Under at marginal value at +105.

Chelsea vs Liverpool game info

Chelsea vs Liverpool key injuries

Chelsea: Armando Broja STR (Out), Thiago Silva CB (Out), Wesley Fofana CB (Questionable), Edouard Mendy GK (Questionable), Raheem Sterling FWR (Questionable)
Liverpool: Thiago CM (Out), Stefan Bajcetic CM (Out), Joe Gomez CB (Questionable), Luis Diaz FWR (Questionable)

Chelsea vs Liverpool recent form

Teams	Last five matches
Chelsea	L-D-W-W-L
Liverpool	L-L-W-W-D

Chelsea vs Liverpool weather

An overcast day that probably won’t see rain. Temperatures will be around 50 degrees.

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