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Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield, with Champions League qualification still on the line for the Reds<\/h2>\n <\/p>\n\n
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\nLiverpool host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon(Image: Robin Jones\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/p>\n
Four pundits have all backed Liverpool to claim three points against Chelsea with a spot in the Champions League still on the line.<\/p>\n
Despite last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United, the Reds remain firm favourites to return to Europe’s top table next season. They are six points ahead of Bournemouth in sixth, with three games left to play.<\/p>\n
It’s struggling Chelsea up next for Arne Slot’s men, as Blues interim manager Calum McFarlane continues to steer the west Londoners until the end of the season. Although he masterminded an FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United in his first game in charge, the rookie boss could do nothing as Nottingham Forest walked away from Stamford Bridge with all three points on Bank Holiday Monday.<\/p>\n
Chelsea are now six games without a win in the Premier League, which has sent them tumbling down to ninth in the table.<\/p>\n
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!<\/strong> <\/strong>All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated LFC Facebook page<\/u><\/strong>READ MORE: Liverpool announcement has changed the mood – but Arne Slot question persists<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nOPINION<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\nWith that in mind, the <\/strong>ECHO<\/strong> have taken a look at what the top pundits have said ahead of the Anfield clash, with one team clearly in the driving seat.<\/p>\nAlan Shearer – Liverpool win<\/h3>\n Alan Shearer slammed “messy” Chelsea and admitted it looks like a return to winning form for Liverpool. The Betfair ambassador said: “It\u2019s a big opportunity for Liverpool here. Chelsea look a mess, don\u2019t they? I don\u2019t know how many times I\u2019ve said it, but whatever happens at the top of the club always filters down onto the pitch, and that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happening now.<\/p>\n
“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\u2019t look past Liverpool to win this one, and that would secure Champions League football after what\u2019s been a really disappointing season for them.<\/p>\n
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\nAlan Shearer can’t see past the Reds(Image: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
“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\u2019t just turn it on and off. You can\u2019t just turn up and think, oh, we\u2019ll get through to the FA Cup Final and see what happens.<\/p>\n
“They\u2019re really struggling now for European football next season, let alone Champions League football. I just don\u2019t know what to expect from Chelsea.”<\/p>\n
Chris Sutton – Liverpool win<\/h3>\n Chris Sutton believes the Reds will make it back to the Champions League next season and that the visitors won’t cause too many problems at Anfield. Writing in his BBC Sport column, he said: “Liverpool still look like they will finish in the Champions League places even after their defeat by Manchester United last time out, but that result was the latest disappointment in what has been a poor season by their standards.<\/p>\n
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\nChris Sutton believes Liverpool will get Champions League(Image: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
“Chelsea have bigger problems, however. It is all falling apart for them and, after six straight league defeats, they are down in ninth place and absolutely desperate for a result here.<\/p>\n
“I just don’t see them getting anything at Anfield though. Cole Palmer looks a shadow of the player we know he is and they are struggling defensively too.”<\/p>\n
Paul Merson – Liverpool win<\/h3>\n Paul Merson argues that the once-monumental clash doesn’t have the same shine that it once did. Backing the Reds in his Sportskeeda column, the ex-Arsenal star said: “This game used to be big, but it’s not the same anymore! After what happened to Liverpool against Manchester United, this is now a must-win game for them.<\/p>\n
“If Liverpool lose again, that gap between them and Bournemouth will come down to just three points. Arne Slot cannot afford to go into a situation where they put Champions League qualification for next season at risk.<\/p>\n
“Chelsea are completely out of the equation for Champions League qualification in my opinion. I was there at Stamford Bridge when they lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest on Monday. They got absolutely destroyed and have now lost six straight games in the Premier League! Unbelievable run of poor form.<\/p>\n
“I think Chelsea are lacking in confidence at the moment. They’re a young football team and need that 30-year-old player in the line-up who can just calm things down on the pitch.<\/p>\n
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\nPaul Merson is backing red over blue(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
“I also don’t understand why they were playing Cole Palmer as a right-winger. He’s a no.10, just play him there! I know Palmer has not impressed this season. But it also down to how Chelsea have set themselves up. Joao Pedro has been excellent but he is not a proper number nine, he likes to drop deep and that leaves little space for Palmer.<\/p>\n
“Just look at Liverpool on the other hand. The two centre-backs haven’t been good enough, Milos Kerkez has been poor, they miss Trent and haven’t covered that position well enough.<\/p>\n
“Apart from Dominik Szoboszlai, none of their midfielders have performed well, both Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have had their own issues and yet, if they had beaten Manchester United, they would have been level on points! That says a lot and I believe Liverpool can finish above United next season.<\/p>\n
“Lately, there has also been noise around the lack of intensity shown by this Liverpool team. But I’m not surprised by it because I believe many of these players will have one eye on the World Cup. None of them want to be injured and it is only a natural reaction, especially when Liverpool have nothing to play for at the moment.<\/p>\n
“I’m backing the hosts to get a crucial win at Anfield.”<\/p>\n
Clinton Morrison – Liverpool win<\/h3>\n Clinton Morrison believes Liverpool will get a 3-1 win over Chelsea with the Blues still “miles off it.” Speaking to FreeBets, the ex-Crystal Palace man said: “They (Chelsea) need a top-quality manager who can steady the ship. The recruitment hasn’t been as good as people thought, the squad needs freshening up, and some of those players need to look at themselves.<\/p>\n
“The performance against Nottingham Forest was nowhere near good enough. Miles off it. With the amount of money spent at that football club, they should be doing a lot better. I honestly don’t know where Chelsea go from here.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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