Football Betting Basics

For Advanced Bettors

Football Betting Tools

Liverpool and Chelsea to Bounce Back

Wigan's home victory over Chelsea caused a massive pain for Chelsea but the repercussions of that game may have a longer impact. The 3-1 shock defeat not only bolstered Roberto Martinez's reputation but it showed the first chinks of doubt in the armoury of new boss Carlo Ancelloti.

Three points can always be made up but the sending off of Petr Cech will see him miss out the side's next match whilst Ashley Cole picked up an injury which may see him missing in action for a while. With a squad of Chelsea's side, this may not be too bad a situation but their next match sees them welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge where another defeat would set alarm bells ringing at the Bridge.

It should not be forgotten that Phil Scolari got off to a tremendous start in his spell of London but a convincing Liverpool triumph along the Kings Road put the wheels off the Chelsea juggernaut. If the same thing happened this season, Chelsea will lose a psychological edge in the battle for the English title. The club already lost the top spot with Manchester United sneaking past them thanks to one goal but with Liverpool sitting just three points behind with a better goal difference, the league race is starting to come to life.

Early wobbles threatened Liverpool's season
Liverpool's revival seems a long way away from the start of the season where two defeats in their first three games had some observers writing them off from the start. White Hart Lane is never an easy place to go and Aston Villa are always likely to cause an upset against a team in disarray but given that Liverpool were only defeated twice in the league last season, there was consternation at Anfield.

Since then, the club have managed to win all their league matches and defeated Hull City 6-1 at home with Fernando Torres notching a hat-trick. This follows swiftly on from Yossi Benayoun notching three goals against Burnley, proving that Liverpool are a side with goals in them. The red side of Merseyside is starting to think that this could be their year but a 2-0 reversal at the hands of Fiorentina in the Champions League proves that not everything is rosy in the Anfield garden.

However, an away win at Stamford Bridge will revitalise Liverpool and could even see them take the top spot in the league if Manchester United slip up at home to Sunderland. This result may seem unlikely but even if Liverpool can only overtake Chelsea into second place, they will see that as a personal triumph.

Pride of the English Midfield
When these two sides meet, the history naturally revolves around the thrilling Champions League matches that the two have shared between them but an interesting sideshow comes in the middle of the park. England fans have long felt that there is a problem trying to fit Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard into the same midfield although Italian Fabio Capello seems to have created a winning formula.

This has seen England book their place in the 2010 South African World Cup with games to spare and have allowed England fans to dream that next year may eventually be their year. Every time the English national team qualifies for a major tournament, there is a sense of expectation that is inversely proportional to the success achieved by the team but Capello has transformed the team. That sort of dream is for next summer though and both midfielders will be trying hard to seal the domestic glory.

Stevie Gerrard came in for some criticism at the start of the season when Liverpool suffered their stuttering start but the club's revival has seen Gerrard play a key role. For Liverpool to succeed, Fernando Torres needs to be supplied with the ammunition and the England man is vital in this. Javier Mascherano has been out of the side on frequent occasions, Alonso has never been replaced and Lucas is a player that most Liverpool fans wish they hadn't seen.

Bennayoun has stepped up to the plate with a few goals and Dirk Kuyt will always work hard but Stevie Gerrard is absolutely crucial to any title dreams that Liverpool may have.

Chelsea Have More Midfield Options
The onus on Frank Lampard is maybe not as strong given the midfield options available to Chelsea but there is no doubt that players like Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Deco are all more than capable of influencing a game and giving Chelsea the opportunity to score.

And when the ball is played forward, Chelsea have two of the best strikers in the business. Niklas Anelka and Didier Drogba may seem like the players who sulk the most throughout a game but give either of them the ball in the box and they are deadly.

Anelka was the top scorer in last season's top flight and counts Liverpool as one of his ex-teams. This will give the player an added incentive to perform well and make an impact on the match but if players cannot motivate themselves for this type of match, there is something lacking. The Liverpool forwards may fancy their chances more given that Cech will be absent but the confidence shown by Anelka and Drogba will ensure they have no fear in trying to place the ball past Pepe Reina. There is no doubt that the Spanish goalkeeper is one of the best in the English top flight but the forwards are two of the best as well.

Chelsea Win Away in the Champions League
Chelsea have at least bounced back after their reverse at Wigan although the measure of triumph over Apoel Nicosia was hardly convincing. An early Anelka goal would have steadied the ship but the London side were unable to notch a second goal, making for a nervy time for all concerned with the blues of Chelsea. A clean sheet was obtained providing another three points, which should ensure that the kings of Kings Road will be enjoying Europe after Christmas yet again.

The outcome of this match won't be one to decide the destination of the league title but a win for either side will be a massive boost for the victor.

by Andrew Reilly

for The Silver Circle at www.footballtip.co.uk

Click Here to Become a Member of The Silver Circle.

1. Receive J Armstrong's personal picks through both email and SMS.
2. Direct access to J Armstrong though email.
3. Access to Members' Area and support.
4. Access to protected information reserved only for members.