Chelsea vs Liverpool: Premier League Pick & Prediction, October 4, 2025
Stamford Bridge will stage one of the headline Premier League clashes this weekend as Chelsea host defending champions Liverpool in Saturday’s late match. By the time kick-off arrives in West London, the Reds may have already been displaced at the top of the table, while the Blues could be staring at another slip down towards the mid-table pack.
Both sides head into this showdown with a point to prove. Liverpool are desperate to respond after suffering back-to-back defeats, whereas Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea continue to search for consistency and will be determined to prevent a third straight league defeat.
Head-to-Head Record
Saturday’s clash marks the 200th official meeting between Chelsea and Liverpool. Recent encounters between the two have been closely contested, with five of the last nine Premier League meetings finishing level. Each team won their respective home game in 2024/25 – Liverpool edged a 2-1 win at Anfield last October, while Chelsea claimed a 3-1 success at Stamford Bridge against a Reds side already celebrating the title in May.
Liverpool, however, have not enjoyed recent trips to the Bridge. Their last Premier League victory away at Chelsea came in September 2020, when Sadio Mané struck twice in a 2-0 win behind closed doors. Since then, the Merseysiders have gone four successive league visits without a win in West London.
Chelsea Current Form and Team News: Maresca’s men Searching for Stability
Chelsea were tipped by many as outside contenders for the title this season, but Enzo Maresca’s side has yet to find stability. With just two wins from their opening six top-flight games (2-2-2), the Blues sit seven points adrift of the leaders already.
Discipline and injuries continue to plague the side. Trevoh Chalobah’s red card proved costly in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton, while Joao Pedro’s late dismissal in midweek did not affect the result as Chelsea still edged Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League.
Maresca’s absentee list remains quite daunting: Chalobah will serve a suspension, while Levi Colwill, Benoît Badiashile, Dario Essugo, Tosin Adarabioyo, Roméo Lavia, Mykhailo Mudryk, Liam Delap, and Cole Palmer are all sidelined for various reasons. Wesley Fofana and Andrey Santos face late checks, meaning academy prospect Josh Acheampong could again feature in central defence.
Still, Chelsea have scored in eight consecutive matches across all competitions since their opening-day stalemate with Crystal Palace – proof that their attack can trouble even the most organized defenses.
Liverpool Current Form and Team News: Slot Under Serious Pressure After Back-to-Back Defeats
For reigning champions Liverpool, cracks are beginning to appear. The Reds’ perfect Premier League start was snapped last weekend in a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, followed by a 1-0 loss at the hands of Galatasaray in the Champions League midweek.
Arne Slot’s side remain a constant threat in the final third, but their defensive fragility is becoming increasingly concerning. With just two clean sheets from their 10 competitive matches in 2025/26, Liverpool’s lack of stability at the back will surely be scrutinized against Chelsea’s energetic midfield and dynamic attacking options.
The most significant setback for Liverpool comes in goal. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson sustained a hamstring injury in midweek and has been ruled out until after November’s international break, with Arne Slot confirming he will miss at least eight games for the club. In his absence, Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to step in, and the Georgian shot-stopper will need to lean heavily on the leadership of Virgil van Dijk and the defensive unit in front of him to ease his transition into the starting role.
On the brighter side, forwards Federico Chiesa and Hugo Ekitike are both back in contention, while Alexander Isak is expected to spearhead the attack after finding the net against Southampton in the League Cup last month, and completing over 80 minutes in last weekend’s clash with Crystal Palace.
Tactical Duel: Maresca’s Possession vs Slot’s Press
This clash pits two contrasting tactical philosophies against each other. Maresca’s Chelsea emphasize control through midfield, with Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo dictating the tempo while Estevao and Neto inject flair from the flanks. However, their defensive frailties – especially if Acheampong starts – could leave them vulnerable to Liverpool’s quick transitions.
Slot’s Reds thrive in attacking overloads but have looked fragile since the start of the season. The pressing system has created chances, yet lapses in concentration have cost them dearly. Choosing between Isak, Chiesa, and Ekitike will shape the Merseysiders’ attacking approach, but Salah remains the talisman, hunting goals against a leaky Chelsea backline.
Possible Starting XIs of Chelsea and Liverpool
Chelsea: Robert Sanchez – Reece James, Josh Acheampong, Jorrel Hato, Marc Cucurella – Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo – Estevao, Facundo Buonanotte, Pedro Neto – Joao Pedro. (4-2-3-1)
Liverpool: Giorgi Mamardashvili – Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez – Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch – Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo – Alexander Isak. (4-2-3-1)
Chelsea vs Liverpool Betting Odds and Prediction
Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge as narrow favorites with EveryGame pricing them at +135, compared to +180 on Chelsea and +275 for the draw. The odds reflect both sides’ inconsistencies: Chelsea’s selection concerns and Liverpool’s recent struggles (not just when visiting West London).
Given the attacking talent on display and the fact that both defenses have looked shaky, a lively, end-to-end contest should be on the cards. Alexander Isak, offered at +130 to score anytime, looks a strong pick – the Swede has already scored at Stamford Bridge in Newcastle colors and is expected to lead the line here. Despite his poor form this season, Mohamed Salah also represents solid value, given his tendency to deliver in big away games.
Our betting picks are pretty straightforward: Liverpool to win (+135) looks like a smart play, exploiting Chelsea’s backline problems. For added value, Alexander Isak Anytime Goalscorer (+130) is worth a stake.