Chelsea vs Liverpool Match preview

Champions League: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Misfortunate Riise own goal in the final seconds of the match destroyed everything Liverpool player created during 90 minutes and gave Chelsea the lead before the match at Stamford Bridge. However, the Blues won't have an easy task and they will have to lift their form to a higher level if they wish to cross swords with Manchester United 21st May.

Avram Grant still in the run for two trophies

After Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea bench, it seemed that the Blues won't be in any of the trophy race. Grant started by losing to United, continued with a losing series, but later on the squad started marking positive results in spite of their average play. Regardless of the last few results, Chelsea are very close to be left without trophies in spite of millions invested in the team over the last few seasons. Manchester have the lead in the Premiership title race, and Abramovich’s players will have to win Liverpool to get a chance for the Champions League race which won't be easy at all.

Liverpool have managed to get in Abramovich’s way twice before and they stand fine chance for doing it again. Squad’s exhaustion will be Grant’s biggest problem. After tough 90 minutes at Anfield, Chelsea fielded almost the same line-up in another difficult match against Manchester United and only three days after the returning leg at Stamford they will play at St. James Park in the match that can destroy their hopes to catch up with United in the title race. After a family tragedy Lampard is back in the team, but the question is if he will be able to give his best. All the rest of the players are at Grant's disposal, so we should expect Ballack, Essien and Lampard's quality to prevail in the midfield.

Liverpool relying on Torres

It was certainly difficult for Benitez to recover his squad after drawing the first leg. Liverpool definitely deserved more since they were absolutely dominant in the game but Riise's clumsy intervention prolonged the uncertainty. Good news for Liverpool fans is that this is not the first time they had a task to eliminate Chelsea from the Champions League. They succeeded in doing that last two times and they certainly believe that this time will be the same.

Liverpool’s great advantage will, first of all, be the fact that they have been preparing for this match for the last two weeks. During the weekend Benitez rested all of the important players preparing tactics for Wednesday, while practically reserve squad played against Birmingham in Premier League. On the other hand Grant will for the third time in one week field the same line-up. Liverpool are relying on Torres to end Liverpool’s fasting at Stamford. There lies the biggest problem Liverpool are facing on this ground. Last time they won at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool boss was Houllier and since Benitez cam on the bench, the Reds didn't win and even didn't score in London. Torres could change that.

Betting Verdict

Only one group of people in England will be calm before the match between Chelsea and Liverpool. These are Manchester United fans since it is all the same to them what will happen at Stamford tonight. It is ungrateful to even try to predict a winner since a single move could decide the match. Even besides the fact that Liverpool must try to score, as well as the fact that Chelsea are playing offensive since Grant came, we don’t believe that there will be many goals in this match. Whoever scores first will close all the gates in front of their net. That is why we suggest betting on under 2.5 goals.

Our tip: Bet 7 on Under 2.5 goals
Odds 1.5 at
Bookmaker: Gamebookers