Liverpool v Chelsea betting preview

April 22, 2008

Liverpool v Chelsea, Champions League semi-final, first leg. Anfield, 19:45 kickoff.

Liverpool meet Chelsea in the Champions League for the fourth season in a row, and if previous meetings are anything to go by, don’t expect a goal-fest: The previous six legs have produced a grand total of three goals. Liverpool are the only English Club to have knocked Avram Grant’s side out of Europe - not only that, but they’ve done it twice too, in the previous two times these sides met in the semi-finals.

Match Odds:

Liverpool - 13/10 (Bet 365)

Draw - 21/10 (VC Bet)

Chelsea - 13/5 (skybet)

This is the fourth time that Chelsea have reached the semi-final stage of the Champions League, and they will be hoping for better luck than the previous three encounters, when they exited the competition each time. Liverpool by contrast have progressed all the way to the final seven times, and were triumphant there on no less than five occasions. Chelsea are currently 3/1 second-favourites to win the Champions League (Ladbrokes), whilst Liverpool are only marginally behind them on 10/3 (totesport, William Hill, Bet 365 and others).

Correct Score Odds:

Liverpool to win 1-0 - 5/1 (Ladbrokes)

Chelsea to win 1-0 - 8/1 (skybet)

Liverpool to win 2-0 - 9/1 (Stan James)

Chelsea to win 2-0 - 16/1 (Bet365)

Liverpool to win 2-1 - 17/2 (Paddy Power)

Chelsea to win 2-1 - 11/1 (William Hill)

0-0 Draw - 6/1 (Boylesports)

1-1 Draw - 6/1 (skybet)

2-2 draw - 16/1 (Blue Square)

Liverpool are unbeaten in seven Champions League matches, with their last taste of defeat coming at the hands of Besiktas in October of last year. Chelsea have only lost once in ten matches, a 2-1 reverse in the away leg of their Champions League Quarter final match against Fenerbahce, which of course they overcame to progress through to the Semi finals where they meet their English rivals. This match will be shown live on ITV1.

First Goalscorer Odds:

Fernando Torres - 9/2 (Stan James)

Didier Drogba - 7/1 (William Hill)

Nicolas Anelka - 15/2 (totesport)

Steven Gerrard - 8/1 (Boylesports)

Peter Crouch - 8/1 (Ladbrokes)

Frank Lampard - 8/1 (Blue Square)

Andrev Shevchecnko - 10/1 (Bet 365)

Dirk Kuyt - 11/1 (skybet)