Chelsea v Liverpool: Preview, TV channel info, Live stream, Team News, Prediction, Betting odds

The match against Liverpool may turn out to be decisive in more than one way for Chelsea

Win or face the sack. This seems to be the ultimatum reverberating across the British media regarding Jose Mourinho’s future as Chelsea manager. The 52-year old Portuguese has suffered an unforeseen and unforgivable start to the 2015-16 with the Blues, who have suffered 5 defeats in 10 Premier League games – a run that sees them dangerously close to the relegation zone in 15th place. Unbelievable.

To compound matters, he also faces a charge from the Football Association (FA) for trying to communicate with the referee at half-time (which is against the rules) during his side’s 2-1 reverse to London rivals West Ham United. As a result, he may or may not even be present in the dugout for what is largely speculated to be his final game as Chelsea manager against Liverpool, who have enjoyed an unbeaten start under Jurgen Klopp. That is, if he fails to collect all three points.

Kick-Off and Live Telecast

Channel: StarSports 4, StarSports 4 HD

Live Stream: www.starsports.com

Date and Time: Saturday, 31st October 2015 – 1815 IST (1245 BST)

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

Team News

Chelsea

Striker Diego Costa injured his ribs in the Capital One Cup defeat to Stoke City on Tuesday and is yet to learn whether it keeps him out of this clash. Nemanja Matic returns from his one-match ban, but Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and right-back Branislav Ivanovic remain sidelined through injury. Pedro is also a doubt for the game but like Costa could feature against Liverpool.

Liverpool

Christian Benteke – who missed out Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup – hopes to return from the knee injury he sustained in the 1-1 draw against Southampton. James Milner returns from a one-game suspension. Defender Kolo Toure and forward Daniel Sturridge are major doubts with hamstring and knee injuries respectively, while Joe Gomez, Jon Flanagan, Danny Ings and Jordan Henderson remain long-term absentees from Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

Probable Line-ups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic – Zouma, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta – Matic, Ramires – Willian, Fabregas, Hazard – Remy

Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet – Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno – Can, Lucas, Milner – Lallana, Benteke, Coutinho

Form

Chelsea

With an ageing John Terry no longer the commanding figure that made him one of the Premier League’s finest defenders over the past decade, Mourinho seems to be running out of leaders in the squad, someone who can provide that extra inspiration, that little ounce of belief into the team that they can turn a stuttering start to the campaign around.

Worryingly, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas continue to under-perform this campaign. A duo who contributed so much to Chelsea’s success last season with goals, assists and creativity in the attacking third appear to be anonymous this time around. Mourinho can only pray that they are able to turn things around against the Reds for his own sake.

Amidst all the bad form, Mourinho will be relieved that attacking midfielder Willian seems to be unfazed by the position his side find themselves in. Week in and week out, the Brazilian has been on top of his game, making key passes through the centre of the field and creating problems for the opposition with his brilliance when it comes to taking a set-piece. Jose Mourinho’s job probably hinges on whether the 27-year old can deliver the goods yet again on Saturday.

Chelsea (Last 5 games) : LWDLL* (Last match: Stoke City 1-1 Chelsea [5-4 on pens])

*indicates team lost via. a penalty-shootout

Liverpool

In contrast to the happenings at Stamford Bridge, the spirits already seem to be growing at the red-half of Merseyside, where Liverpool have enjoyed an unbeaten start under former Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp. Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Premier League opponents Bournemouth in the League Cup was even more satisfying as it came with a clean-sheet – the German’s first in his opening 4 games as manager.

One major attribute that Klopp has brought to this team is the confidence and willingness to perform for 90 minutes on a football pitch. His never-ceasing clapping on the touchline and his exhibition of youth to celebrate when his team find the nack of the net reflects his passion for the game and seems to inject that into his players as well.

Benteke’s possible returnt o the side will also be a boost. Should he be passed fit to play, the manager will want Benteke to create havoc inside Chelsea’s penalty area against a defence which seems to be as easy to expose this season as it was impenetrable last season.

Liverpool (Last 5 games) : DDDDW (Last match: Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth)

Key Stats

• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 8 games against Liverpool in all competitions.
• Since beating Chelsea thrice at Stamford Bridge in 2011, Liverpool have failed to register a win over there.
• The Reds have failed to keep a clean sheet against their Saturday opponents in the last 10 games in all competitions.
• Chelsea have won just once in their last 7 games in all competitions. (Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa).
• Jose Mourinho has lost half of his last 12 Premier League games, losing just 6 of the 64 preceding league fixtures.
• Liverpool have drawn 7 out of their last 9 games in all competitions(W2), although one of them was a 3-2 penalty-shootout victory over League-Two Carlisle United in the League Cup.
• They have scored more than one goal in just one game this season in all competitions, a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.

Key Battles

Christian Benteke vs John Terry

One can argue that John Terry’s finest days may be beyond him, but if he has to earn his side a victory – and critically, see manager Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge next week – he will have to do the unenviable task of keeping the dangerous Christian Benteke at arms’ length on Saturday.

His thundering header to give the Reds the lead against the Saints last Sunday proved his aerial threat inside the opposition box. The fact that he was involved in 7 offensive aerials in 45 minutes inside the Southampton’s penalty area made Jurgen Klopp’s intentions of playing to the 24-year old’s strengths very clear.

It may well be a decisive 90 minutes not just for the club captain, but for the club as a whole – with the manager’s position on a knife-edge and heavily dependent on this particular result.

Prediction

With Diego Costa highly doubtful for this fixture and Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas horribly out of touch in midfield this season, it’s hard to see where Chelsea’s goals will come from. A rejuvenated Liverpool will be seeking to take advantage of an uncharacteristically leaky Chelsea defence and are probably set to hammer the last nail into Jose Mourinho’s coffin, as far as his second tenure as Blues’ boss is concerned.

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

Betting Odds (bet365)

Chelsea: 11/10

Draw 5/2

Liverpool 11/