Domination of English teams in European competitions have resulted with finals played by the Premier League teams and in the end Liverpool and Chelsea won the two titles. Liverpool won the more valuable one as they are Champions of Europe after winning Tottenham in the final match, while Chelsea won the Europa League after defeating Arsenal. Liverpool had started the new season in the Premiership with a victory, while Chelsea with a sound defeat. Liverpool won Chelsea once last year, while the second match was a draw.
Liverpool plays two Super Cup matches this season, or more precisely, the Reds have already played the English one. They didn’t win the title because Manchester City was better after a penalty shootout at Wembley. The result read at the end of regular time 1-1 and Liverpool was no weaker team but they weren’t focused enough during the penalty shootout. On the other hand the reigning champion of Europe and vice-champion of England has started the new season with a sound victory. They faced at home newcomer to the Premier League Norwich and the Reds' victory was no surprise.
From the beginning the Reds imposed their rhythm and the guests had no chance at all as after half an hour Liverpool had a lead of 3-0. The result was 4-0 for Liverpool at the halftime, and in the second half they routinely brought the match to its end but not before Norwich didn’t score one goal. It is not good that the first goalkeeper Alisson got injured who cannot play now. Adrian will replace him, who was brought near the end of the transfer window from West Ham. S. Mane is fully ready and he will play from the first minute.
Probable lineups Liverpool: Adrian – Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, J. MaPick, Robertson – Fabinho, J. Milner, Henderson – M. Salah, R. Firmino, S. Mane
Chelsea played only one competitive match so far, and that happened in the Premier League first round. How they played the derby at Old Trafford against Manchester United it would be better if they didn’t even appear at the pitch. They lost the big derby by even 4-0 and the rival taught them a good lesson, although Chelsea had its chance after receiving the first goal. They also hit the goal frame and luck definitely turned its backs in the second half when they received two more goals in just two minutes. That was the end of the story but before the final whistle they received one more goal for a true debacle, which was a debut of new manager Lampard.
Still, it shouldn’t be big surprise that Chelsea doesn’t play with full throttle at the beginning of season, given they have lost their best player E .Hazard's this summer. That must have been felt in their performances, while the second major problem for the Blues is that they have ban on bringing new players, so they only bought Kovacic and there is Pulisic, whom they bought from Borussia Dortmund last winter. Higuain also left and Chelsea’s attack is visibly weaker, where young Abraham will play from the first minute. We expect to see on the pitch from the first minute Giroud, Pulisic, and Kante, considering that the latter was surprisingly left on the bench against Manchester United. Rudiger, Willian, Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoia have problems with injuries.
Probable lineups Chelsea: Arrizabalaga – Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, M. Alonso – Kante, Jorginho – Pedro, Barkley, Pulisic – Giroud
Beginning of the Premiership has revealed that many things don’t fit together in Chelsea and they are not ready to face the strongest teams where Liverpool definitely belongs. European champion is in better shape and we expect to win their first title this season..
Pick: 1 Liverpool 1.64 -
64/100 @1XBet