Peter Crouch predicts scoreline of Chelsea vs Liverpool game

Crouch has backed Liverpool to bounce back in their title defence with a convincing win over Chelsea.

The reigning Premier League holders were stunned in a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace, with Eddie Nketiah netting a dramatic late winner at Selhurst Park.

Arsenal came from behind to win 24 hours later, closing the gap to just two points behind Liverpool ahead of a highly anticipated weekend in the league.

Liverpool were hoping for a lift in their midweek Champions League outing against Galatasaray following their setback in south London, but Arne Slot’s side couldn’t find the breakthrough.

For the first time since 2020, the Reds failed to score in Europe’s top competition, as Victor Osimhen converted a penalty for the game’s only goal.

Still, Liverpool can take heart from Chelsea’s recent struggles, with the London club suffering consecutive league defeats to Manchester United and Brighton.

Although Chelsea returned to winning form against Benfica on Tuesday, Crouch believes Liverpool will secure all three points at Stamford Bridge.

‘Obviously with Arsenal winning in the last minute, it feels like they’re in the ascendancy a little bit,’ the ex-Liverpool and England striker said on That Peter Crouch Podcast.

‘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.’

When asked for a score prediction ahead of Saturday’s clash, Crouch replied: ‘I’m going in! I’m going to go 3-1 Liverpool.’

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca faces further challenges, with eight senior players expected to miss the match against Liverpool.

Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Andrey Santos, and Dario Essugo are all sidelined through injury.

Defender Trevoh Chalobah will also be unavailable due to suspension following his red card against Brighton.

‘We lost Andrey Santos, who will be out until after the international break,’ Maresca told reporters following the win over Benfica.

‘We have seven or eight players out. It is difficult to pick the same XI. ‘But it is what it is. We need to adapt.’

Liverpool’s injury list is shorter, though Hugo Ekitike, Alisson Becker, and Federico Chiesa remain doubtful.

Giovanni Leoni, signed in the summer, has been ruled out for the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in his debut against Southampton.

‘He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year,’ Slot said of the young defender’s devastating setback.

‘Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.

‘There’s never a positive side, but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young.

‘He has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.’