Chris Sutton disagrees with Peter Crouch over Chelsea vs Liverpool prediction as 'sixes and sevens' claim made

Chelsea have a big game ahead of them on Saturday as they prepare to welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge. The Blues have been on a frustrating run in the Premier League, now three games without a win having suffered back-to-back defeats.

Enzo Maresca’s men did manage to win in the Champions League during the week, beating Benfica at home, and they are hoping that will be the catalyst to a better run of form. Injuries have certainly played their part, but there will be no respite on that front until after the international break for the most part.

Liverpool had a good start to the season in terms of results, but few will argue that they have played well so far this season, and results now look to have caught up with their performances, with Arne Slot’s men now having suffered back-to-back defeats across all competitions.

The Reds lost to Crystal Palace away from home in the Premier League last weekend, and they went on to lose to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Slot’s men will arrive in West London with plenty to improve upon, and all that makes this game a very difficult one to predict.

That doesn’t stop pundits from giving it a crack, though, and former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch is backing his old club to come out on top. “Obviously, with Arsenal winning in the last minute, it feels like they’re in the ascendancy a little bit,” he said, as cited by Anfield Index.

“Liverpool probably need a reaction, but it’s a tough place to go, obviously, at Chelsea. I do think Liverpool will get a result here, though. I’m going in! I’m going to go 3-1 Liverpool.”

BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton disagrees, though, and he has backed Chelsea to pull off what would be a very big win here. He said: “Chelsea's back-to-back league defeats by Manchester United and Brighton have been a classic case of them shooting themselves in the foot. If they had kept 11 men on the pitch in both matches it would have had a huge impact.

“So, that's their first aim here and if it's 11 v 11 then Chelsea can hurt Liverpool, even without Cole Palmer, because the Reds are at sixes and sevens at the back. I am tempted to go with a draw but this is a big game and I want to be brave and pick a winner.

“AI will probably go for a draw to try to bore its way to its first win of the season. I am going to stick my neck out and back my old team to make it a hat-trick of defeats for Arne Slot. Prediction: 2-1.”

Liverpool are currently two points clear at the top of the Premier League, and defeat here could see them drop off top spot. Meanwhile, Chelsea are currently in eighth and three points off the top four at this still early stage.

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