Crouchy’s Shouts: Salah strikes back in 7/1 Chelsea v Liverpool Bet Builder

The biggest game of the week from the Premier League kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday evening at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea v Liverpool.

The home side have endured a bumpy spell as they’ve seen red card after red card flung their way in recent weeks, though a 1-0 win the Champions League over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica ought to steady the ship ahead of Liverpool’s visit.

The Reds were uninspired in Istanbul – for once – as Galatasaray beat them 1-0 with Mo Salah surprisingly starting on the bench after Palace stunned them on Saturday in delivering a first league defeat of the season.

It all sets up an intriguing game on Saturday between two sides looking a bit wobblier than we might have expected at this stage of the season, and big Peter Crouch can’t wait to get stuck into it with his thoughts on both sides and his best bets for the game.

And don’t forget, any plater bets are covered by Super Sub, where even if your selection goes off, your bet will roll on. Whoo!

Crouchy’s Chelsea v Liverpool Bet Builder

Liverpool to win

Over 2.5 goals

Mo Salah to score

Joao Pedro to have 1+ shots on target

Marc Cucurella to commit 1+ fouls

A Bet Builder on these selections pays at approximately 7/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP

WHEN: Saturday, November 4th, 5:30pm

WHERE: Stamford Bridge, London

TV: Sky Sports Main Event

With the way Liverpool have won a lot of games late this season so far, there are always different ways of looking at it – when they win and they’re top of the league it’s down to ‘character’ and the strength of the team, and when they lose a couple and it becomes ‘well, they ‘ve been bad in every game’. The narrative always falls that way and it feels a bit like that after their two losses this week.

I wouldn’t say Saturday’s game at Chelsea is a must-win game for them – they are top of the league after all – but it’s important they silence a lot of the talk about them not playing well.

There’s been good parts to Liverpool’s play this season, but there’s also been poor parts, and there’s definitely a defensive fragility about them, particularly at full-back. Arne Slot probably made a mistake in the Galatasaray game in midweek leaving Salah out and putting Frimpong higher up. It felt strange and it’s the first time I’ve thought ‘Ah, the manager’s got it wrong there’.

They do have a lot of options in forward lines, and this kind of rotation might be a stroke of genius later in the season but there is a question around the balance in the team now. They used to have three workman-like midfielders with two high wingers and a striker ahead. They’ve upset that now and it looks more like two in midfield with Florian Wirtz being further forward.

That gives them a defensive issue too.

Wirtz a class act as player and I think the £100m fee means we’re looking at him differently than we would if he’d cost less.

Now, if you cost that kind of money, you do need to hit the ground running and he hasn’t, but I can speak from my experience at Liverpool when I didn’t score for a long time, the fans will stick by you, and it will come good for him I believe.

And he has been a bit unlucky too at times – Dean Henderson made a great save in the Palace game from him. Also, the stats show he’s creating a lot for the team. Once he gets a few goals and others start taking the chances he creates his confidence will grow and lots of good things will come from him in a Liverpool shirt.

Liverpool to win

They’re playing Chelsea on Sunday and he’ll get a chance to do that with the injuries and suspensions at the back they’re dealing with. The last thing anyone needs going up against Liverpool is an injury list like Chelsea’s – Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo are out, and Trevor Chalobah’s suspended as well.

With the forwards Liverpool have, some of them rested during the week, they’ll be raring to have a go at whatever backline Chelsea put out so you’d really worry for them.

It really give Liverpool an opportunity to have a statement win away at Stamford Bridge and put the end to a disappointing week.

Over 2.5 goals

As I said, Liverpool have had their defensive issues this season, while Chelsea are really stretched at the back, so it’d be reasonable to expect quite a few goals in this.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it finished 3-1 to Liverpool, but over 2.5 goals at least is a fair expectation for sure.

Mo Salah to score

He was left out in midweek and I’d imagine he’ll want to let everyone know that he should be starting. I could see him getting a couple if you wanted to add one ore more goals to your Bet Builder, but will go for just one against his old side.

Joao Pedro to have 1+ shots on target

Cole Palmer’s expected to miss this game and with a few other injuries in the forward positions, Joao Pedro stands out as the likeliest to hit the target on the Chelsea side.

Marc Cucurella to commit 1+ fouls

The Spanish full-back has a couple of cards already this season and leads the team in fouls committed so is a clear choice to have at least one more on Saturday.

Crouchy’s Chelsea v Liverpool Bet Builder

Liverpool to win

Over 2.5 goals

Mo Salah to score

Joao Pedro to have 1+ shots on target

Marc Cucurella to commit 1+ fouls

A Bet Builder on these selections pays at approximately 7/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP

*All odds quoted are correct at time of publication but subject to change

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