Liverpool vs Chelsea preview: Storylines, odds, prediction as top ...

We’re about to enter a new era for one of the most famous clashes in English football. Fans have been treated to some epic battles between Chelsea and Liverpool and witnessed duels between world class coaches on the touchline. Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez, Antonio Conte, Brendan Rodgers, Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp. The list goes on.

It’s a new season and we have a new generation of managers in each dugout with both rated as two of the most promising managers in the game. Enter Arne Slot, a student of the Dutch ‘Total Football’ school of thinking, and Enzo Maresca, a disciple of Pep Guardiola.

Add into the mix the fact that these are two attacking sides competing for the Premier League title and boasting a number of star players like Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah and you have the recipe for an absolute classic.

You can certainly expect a few goals during this game. The two teams have netted 29 goals between them this season, with Chelsea the second-highest scorers in the league with 16 strikes. Both teams play an expansive brand of football and, without wanting to tempt fate, it could be a real feast for the eyes.

This will be, without doubt, the biggest test Slot has faced since taking over as Liverpool boss. His side dismantled Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford but Chelsea appear to be a level above the Red Devils this season. The Blues have already faced reigning champions Manchester City and lost 2-0 at home, so this presents a chance for Maresca to prove his players can deliver against a top side.

Liverpool will go into this one as favourites after topping the Premier League table over the international break with 18 points from seven games — having won their last six across all competitions — though Chelsea know that a famous win at Anfield on Sunday afternoon will see them close the gap to the top to just one point.

Chelsea will be eager to bounce back from a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest last time out, but it is away from home where Maresca’s men have shone. They’ve won all three of their games on their travels so far, conceding just once and scoring 10 in the process. However, Chelsea will be coming up against the most defensively sound team in the league, with the Red letting in just two goals so far this season.

Also working against the Blues is their miserable recent run against the Reds. They’re currently on a 10-match run without a win against the Merseysiders — including defeats in three cup finals.

On the injury front, Liverpool received a boost this week after Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones were all released early from international duty to prepare for the Chelsea clash. Alexis Mac Allister remains a doubt after suffering a groin strain in the last game against Crystal Palace and only playing 66 minutes for Argentina against Bolivia this week.

Goalkeeper Alisson remains out for a while, while Federico Chiesa has a chance of featuring. Question marks remain over Wataru Endo with the Japan international missing his side’s 1-1 draw against Australia through illness.

As for Chelsea, Maresca has been dealt a double blow with defensive duo Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella both ruled out of the contest through suspension. Reece James is back in training, but this game could come too soon for the England international.

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Odds update live.

Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
Time: 4:30 p.m. BST (11:30 a.m. ET), Sunday
Streaming: Fubo (US only, try for free)

Liverpool: 6-0-1, 18 points (1st); W-W-W-L-W
Chelsea: 4-2-1, 14 points (4th); D-W-W-W-D

Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea

It’s hard to separate these two sides given the magnitude of the game and the way they both play. Chelsea and Liverpool will be desperate not to lose this and we could be treated to a real spectacle. With the attacking ability both teams possess and their goalscoring records so far, I expect to see the net ripple on more than one occasion. This is definitely not one to miss.

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(Photo of Cole Palmer: Clive Mason / Getty Images)

Dan Santaromita is a senior editor for sports betting at The Athletic. Dan previously wrote for NBC Sports Chicago and ProSoccerUSA. He is a University of Missouri graduate who resides in Chicago. Follow Dan on Twitter @TheDanSanto