Thanks to its faltering title rivals, Liverpool is having an easier time closing in on that elusive first ever Premier League title than expected. But the Reds still have one final tough test to pass with the visit of second-place Chelsea, who still have a puncher’s chance of snatching away the title.
[sc:Soccer ]Liverpool vs. Chelsea Betting Preview
When: Sunday, April 27, 2014, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Line: Chelsea (+360) at Liverpool (-175), Tie (+290) – view lines here
Betting on Liverpool
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Who can stop the all-conquering Liverpool? Still unbeaten in 2014, the Reds have won their last 11 games in a row, including the last six at Anfield. In their last home game, they edged out fellow title contenders Manchester City in a 3-2 thriller.
But despite Liverpool’s winning run, they’ve shown in the past two games that they are still fallible at the back. Liverpool squandered a two-goal lead against City, and allowed two goals in their most recent game away at Norwich.
Thankfully for the Liverpool defenders, their offense – one that has scored a league-leading 96 goals – has their back. The lightning-quick Raheem Sterling, who’s scored three goals in the last two games, is just one of the many Liverpool weapons that can terrorize a Chelsea defense that will be without stalwarts Petr Cech and John Terry.
Betting on Chelsea
Of course, the last team to hand Liverpool a league loss was Chelsea. But that was at home, back in December, and with a healthy squad.
Now, Chelsea will be away to Anfield; the Blues are just 2-1-2 in their last five away games. The game will be held just a week after Chelsea all but ceded the Premier League title with a shocking 2-1 home defeat to bottom club Sunderland, ending Jose Mourinho’s 77-match home unbeaten run as Chelsea manager.
And they will be without first-choice goalie Petr Cech and captain John Terry, both injured in the Champions League semifinal first leg vs. Atletico Madrid, and possibly even key forwards Eden Hazard (18 goals) and Samuel Eto’o (12 goals), who are also battling injuries.
With the league seemingly out of reach and working with a squad that has been decimated by injury, the possibility that Mourinho may just opt to field a weakened team against Liverpool to save their best roster for the second leg against Atletico next week remains very real.
Writer’s Prediction
Mourinho throws in the white towel at Anfield as Liverpool cruises to an easy victory.
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