WE HAVE another bumper set of Premier League fixtures to get our teeth into this week after the top-flight returned in style.
New-look Chelsea did the business at Brighton on Monday Night Football, Liverpool were pushed all the way by Leeds and Arsenal were ruthless as they swatted aside newly promoted Fulham.
Timo Werner is expected to lead the line against LiverpoolCredit: AFP or licensors
Chelsea vs Liverpool, Sunday 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
How about this for a Sunday treat?
New-look Chelsea host the champions in the first big heavyweight tussle of the new season.
And this one really has potential to be a stormer.
Liverpool were all over the place at the back against Leeds last weekend, conceding three goals despite the West Yorkshire side mustering just three shots on target.
Frank Lampard will have studied that game and will hope his expensively-assembled frontline can do similar damage.
It wasn’t quite as comfortable for the Blues down at Brighton as the scoreline suggested, but Lampard will take every hard-fought victory no matter how it comes.
New-boy Kai Havertz had a baptism of fire and didn’t quite look up to speed, at one point pinging a cross-field ball straight into the posh seats under no pressure at all.
And there are doubts over Timo Werner’s fitness after he picked up a knock.
We said in our preview last week that this Chelsea experiment will take time – and we’re leaving along the 21/10 on a home win as a result.
That’s a massive price and some will be tempted, but we’d much prefer to play this one safe and back goals.
We went for over 3.5 goals in the Leeds match and that had won before 35 minutes, with the price on lightning striking twice a very tempting 6/4.
It might be the history books swaying this one a bit, but only one H2H between the clubs here at the Bridge has featured four or more goals since 2015.
At that price though – and with these players on show – we say go for it.
Three of Liverpool’s five away matches in the post-lockdown schedule saw over 3.5 goals win, while nine of Chelsea’s 19 home matches saw a goal frenzy.
With both sides going for early season bragging rights, it definitely won’t be dull.
Especially with Chelsea’s goalkeeper situation still up in the air.
If Kepa starts, you back the Blues to concede, it’s that simple.
The Spaniard has let in nine goals from the last 13 shots on target he’s faced in the Premier League. Pretty grim stuff.
Klopp will have his men shoot on sight and we don’t see how the home side can escape with a clean sheet – so back Chelsea to concede two or more against the champions.
Werner’s injury situation is one to monitor but the German is expected to feature in Sunday’s showdown.
He showed flashes of brilliance in the Brighton win but didn’t get a guilt-edged chance to showcase his lethal finishing.
If Werner starts, you’re backing him to score at 6/4 anytime which is a monster price.
And for those of you feeling brave, 4/1 on the former RB Leipzig man to net the opener is tempting too.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
