Liverpool and Chelsea will meet at Anfield in a 12:30pm Premier League kick-off on Saturday, and Alan Shearer has named his winner.
Arne Slot goes into the game aiming to keep an 11-year Anfield record alive for another season.
Liverpool’s form has been poor this season, suffering their most defeats in a single Premier League campaign since 2014/15, but Chelsea have been even worse, and Shearer ‘can’t see past’ a win for the home outfit.
Give us your prediction for Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Chelsea…
Liverpool can all but clinch Champions League football with a win. Will they get it?
Alan Shearer backs Liverpool to beat Chelsea
Amid predicting a win for Liverpool on May 9, Shearer told the Metro: “It’s a big opportunity for Liverpool here. Chelsea look a mess, don’t they? I don’t know how many times I’ve said it, but whatever happens at the top of the club always filters down onto the pitch, and that’s exactly what’s happening now.
“It looks as if their players are trying to get through the season to the FA Cup Final, and then see what happens. It can’t look past Liverpool to win this one, and that would secure Champions League football after what’s been a really disappointing season for them.
“Having watched Chelsea v Forest the other night, Chelsea were shocking, they were abysmal and there has to be a massive improvement from that, because you can’t just turn it on and off. You can’t just turn up and think, oh, we’ll get through to the FA Cup Final and see what happens.
“They’re really struggling now for European football next season, let alone Champions League football. I just don’t know what to expect from Chelsea.”
Liverpool keep Arne Slot, Xabi Alonso goes to Chelsea. How would you react? 😄😡
A win for Liverpool on the day would see them move nine points clear of sixth-place Bournemouth before their meeting with Fulham at 3pm later in the day.
However, a loss could create some seriously unneeded pressure on Slot and the players, especially if the Cherries are able to pick up a win.
Liverpool currently have a nine-better goal difference than the South Coast outfit, but it is worth remembering the Reds’ season ends with meetings against Aston Villa and Brentford, both of whom are still aiming to secure a European place this year.
Thankfully, Chelsea are in horrible form right now, losing their last five Premier League matches in a row, which is the joint-worst run in the top flight along with 19th-place Burnley, so a win should be pretty nailed on.
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