EPL Betting – Expect Goals When Blues Host Reds

Liverpool (+217) at Chelsea (-125), Draw (+246)

Redemption, that’s the theme of the 2016-17 EPL season for Chelsea (3-1-0, 10 pts) and Liverpool (2-1-1, 7 pts). Both high-priced clubs are coming off disappointing campaigns, finishing tenth and eighth respectively. Early in this season, one thing is clear: both sides can fill the net. So expect fireworks on Friday when the Blues host the Reds at Stamford Bridge in London (3:00 PM Eastern).

Liverpool started the year with a bang, upsetting Arsenal 4-3 (away). They also romped over defending champs Leicester last time out, 4-1 (home). Sandwiched in between those wins were an away draw with Tottenham (1-1) and a surprise road loss to Burnley (2-0). The Reds’ seven goals against are the second-most for a team inside the top-ten.

The Reds won’t be at full strength on Friday. Manager Jurgen Klopp revealed that midfielder Emre Can is set to miss the match due to injury. That will be a problem against a Chelsea team that’s firing on all cylinders, at least offensively.

The Blues have nine goals on the year – same as Liverpool – but have been more consistent, scoring at least two goals each time out. They only managed a draw at Swansea in their last match (2-2) after starting the year with three straight wins.

Chelsea are a perfect 2-0-0 at Stamford Bridge so far, outscoring opponents 5-1.

While the offense has been putting up nice numbers, it’s clearly been dependent on Diego Costa. The Spaniard scored both goals against Swansea and now has four of the team’s nine goals.

The recent head-to-head has been pretty even. Liverpool won at Stamford Bridge last year while the sides drew in Liverpool. Chelsea knocked Liverpool out of the 2015 Capital One Cup, however. Overall, they’re an identical 1-3-1 in the last five meetings.

I like the value on the draw.

Pick: Draw (+246). 

Photo credit: CFCUnofficial, CC BY-SA 2.0 [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.