Chelsea vs Liverpool
The clash between Chelsea and Liverpool is always one to look forward to in the English Premier League season. The two teams are some of the biggest clubs in the EPL. Liverpool has had better success in the League in previous years than in recent times. But Chelsea, on the other hand, had only tasted success in recent times when Abramovic took over.
Before the sale of Chelsea last year, Abramovic had successfully put Chelsea in a better place than where he met them when he was in charge. Despite Chelsea being popularly known for changing managers consistently, it has helped the club maintain a winning culture. They are now one of the best teams in the Premier League and the football world at large.
In the last ten years, Chelsea has won different titles and trophies, which include 2 Champions Leagues titles, 1 FIFA World Cup, 6 English Champions, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 2 Europa Leagues, 2 FA Cups, 5 English Leagues, and 4 English Super Cups. In Liverpool’s case, since their first games, they have won the Premier League 19 times, 8 FA Cups, and 9 League Cups, including the EFL Cup and the Carabao/Carling Cup. They have also won 15 FA Community Shield titles between 1964 and 2006, 6 Champions Leagues between 1977 and 2019, 3 Europa Leagues, 4 UEFA Super Cups, and a FIFA Club World Cup.
The Blues have been very disappointing in the Premier League this season. After spending big in the 2022 summer transfer window and just six games into the season, the new management, under Todd Boehly, relieved Thomas Tuchel of his duties as head coach and searched for a new head coach. A few days later, Chelsea appointed Graham Potter after playing some exciting and attacking football with Brighton. Chelsea would have easily anticipated the same and even more with a much better squad, but that has not been the case. Chelsea has been a shadow of themselves this season, winning just one of their last eight Premier League matches and finding themselves in 10th with 25 points in 17 games.
Liverpool also has yet to be exciting this season. Having reached the UEFA Champions League final, missed out on the English Premier League, and won both EFL and FA cup last season, the Reds have struggled for consistency, especially in the Premier League. After losing Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, Liverpool signed one of Europe’s rising talents Darwin Nunez as Mane’s replacement. However, Darwin Nunez has found it difficult to replicate his Benfica form in the English Premier League. He now finds himself in an unwanted situation where he leads the chart for most missed chances.
It has been an exciting ride for him, unlike his counterpart Erling Haaland who has taken the Premier League by storm scoring 21 goals and setting up his teammates three times in just 16 games. Liverpool needs to find their form as they look set to miss out on the top 4; they are currently 6th on the table with just 28 points.
In previous seasons they met 40 times. Liverpool won 13 matches, Chelsea won 12, and 15 ended up in a draw. Their last meeting in the Premier League ended up in 1-1 draw. So far this season, Liverpool has an average of 2.22 points for each of their home matches, while Chelsea has an average of 1.22 points for each game in their away matches. Statistics-wise, Liverpool is doing quite well at home, but the same cannot be said for Chelsea’s away record.
Liverpool’s wins in the FA and EFL cup finals last season were both against Chelsea. Though the two teams haven’t been in their best form, Chelsea doesn’t look ready for revenge, making Liverpool the favourites in their match coming up on 21 January. Still, it is one to look out for as Potter’s side will try to turn their season around in this game.
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