Late Charlie Adam winner looks tempting at 12/1
Barring a couple of Champions League clashes two seasons ago, Chelsea and Liverpool have produced fewer than three goals in every Stamford Bridge clash between them since the final game of the 2002/03 season.
With goals likely to be at a premium, it will take the wiliest and most astute of punters to find the man or men who will hit the net in the 4pm kick off.
In the Blue corner, I would look straight at two players who have scored ten goals between them already this season.
Questions were raised as to whether Frank Lampard was still the player of old, or just an old player. He has answered his critics in the only way he knew how.
Daniel Sturridge returned from a successful loan spell at Bolton to force his way into the Chelsea first XI and is 7/5 to score anytime (5/1 to score first), while Lampard can be found at 2/1 anytime (7/1 first).
It has truly been a hit and miss season for Fernando Torres (hits the woodwork and misses the target). But if the creative writer in you thinks that ‘El Nino’ will haunt his former club this Sunday then you can find him at 4/1 to open the scoring, or 11/10 to score anytime (14/1 for the hat-trick, but lets not go nuts). Another former Red, Raul Meireles, is 3/1 to score anytime (11/1 the first).
Elsewhere, Juan Mata has been sensational since his arrival from Valencia in the summer and can be backed at 9/5 to score anytime. Didier Drogba (6/5), Nicolas Anelka (17/10) and John Terry (6/1) are also possible on the anytime market.
In the Red corner we have Kenny Dalglish’s men, who have been left frustrated by recent home draws against Norwich and Swansea.
However, Liverpool always seem to manage to raise their game against the big guns, having already beaten Arsenal and Everton away this season, and were unlucky not to get the better of Manchester United a few weeks ago.
The Reds pulled off an impressive double over Chelsea last season. However, all three of their goals over the two games were scored by current Chelsea players (Torres and Meireles).
New heroes will have to step up to the plate if Dalglish is to continue his impressive managerial record with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge (he has never lost there).
Luis Suarez has had quite a week. Scoring four goals for Uruguay in one game, then being charged by the FA for accusations of using racist language towards United left-back Patrice Evra.
Either ‘El Pistolero’ loses his temper and has a stinker/gets sent off, or he channels it and produces another inspired performance. Suarez is 13/2 to open the scoring and 9/5 to score anytime, which seem like good odds for a player who excels on big occasions.
Like Torres, Andy Carroll has been labelled an expensive flop after his £35m move from Newcastle. The hulking centre forward has been challenged by Fabio Capello this week to up his game if he wants to get back into the England squad. Odds of 2/1 say he gets his third of the season on Sunday.
Other potential scoring avenues for Liverpool could come from Dirk Kuyt (11/4), Craig Bellamy (11/4), Stewart Downing (4/1) or Jordan Henderson (11/2).
However, I believe the smart money will be on Charlie Adam. The Scot has bagged two goals since his summer move from Blackpool and takes most of Liverpool’s set pieces, especially in the absence of skipper Steven Gerrard.
Also, on the past three occasions Liverpool have won at the Bridge, the winner has been scored by a midfield player. Back Adam to score the final goal of the game at 12/1 (13/4 anytime).
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