Take Chelsea and Liverpool to shine on Super Sunday
THINGS haven’t gone Chelsea’s way in recent weeks and the cloak of invincibility that surrounded the club in December has started to slip away.
They’ve dropped points in four of their last 10 league games and Bradford knocked them out of the FA Cup.
Nemanja Matic, an impressive force in the Blues midfield, is suspended for Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against London rivals Tottenham and the Serb will be a big miss.
However, Chelsea should still win. Tottenham have flattered to deceive all season. They seemed to be hitting full stride after an inconsistent start, but brilliant wins over Chelsea and Arsenal have been overshadowed by poor losses to Crystal Palace and Leicester.
They were warm favourites to see off out-of-form West Ham last Sunday but needed two goals in the last 10 minutes to salvage a draw and which Tottenham turns up at Wembley is anyone’s guess.
The fact that they were in action against Fiorentina in the Europa League last night is another reason to oppose Mauricio Pochettino’s side. The manager is flying back with his squad this afternoon and it’s a real ask to play two massive games just three days apart.
Burnley snatched a surprise point at Chelsea last Saturday, but Jose Mourinho has had over a week to get his team prepared and his record in major finals is fantastic. The Portuguese has been triumphant in nine of the 11 he has reached across four countries, with both defeats coming after extra-time.
Expect Chelsea not to force the game but to take their opportunities as they come. A repeat of the epic 5-3 Spurs win earlier this season looks most unlikely with a more disciplined display from both teams on the cards.
Sporting Index has Chelsea supremacy trading at 0.85-1.05 and that’s worth buying. A 2-0 score is the most likely outcome in my book and even if they only win by a single goal losses are limited.
Before the League Cup showpiece Liverpool host Manchester City and the Reds look a big price at 2/1 with Betway to take three points.
Brendan Rodgers’s men are unbeaten in 10 league games, which makes them the only top-tier team to have avoided defeat in 2015, and face a City camp wounded by the loss to Barcelona on Tuesday.
Liverpool might have only won two of the last 12 league meetings against Manuel Pellegrini’s side but have gone 12 games unbeaten at home versus these rivals.
The visitors are short at a general 6/4 considering they have dropped points against Burnley, Everton and Hull recently and the value call is snapping up that 2/1.
■ Pointers…
Buy Chelsea supremacy at 1.05 with Sporting Index
Liverpool at 2/1 with Betway to beat Man City