Big guns clash twice in 4 days
EPL top dogs Liverpool and Chelsea face up tomorrow and again on Saturday and the League Cup clash will show if either have the depth of talent to challenge the champions1
Liverpool and Chelsea meet tomorrow night in the League Cup in the first of two eagerly awaited clashes this week between English football’s early season front-runners.
The midweek cup tie at Anfield will be followed on Saturday by a top-of-the-table meeting at Stamford Bridge and is likely to be completely overshadowed by the league encounter.
Tomorrow’s cup tie will be no dress rehearsal for the league encounter, but a clash between two completely fresh teams.
As has become the custom in the competition, both Chelsea and Liverpool will rest their regulars and chuck on the reserves for their opening outing in the League Cup, having received a bye through the first two rounds.
So, whatever the result emerging from the Anfield meeting, it will be of little relevance to Saturday’s league clash in London.
But all the same the cup tie will be closely watched to see what playing approaches the respective managers employ and especially to study the quality of talent at their disposal.
Manchester City’s quality in depth is well known and it is increasingly clear Pep Guardiola’s club are going to take some stopping. Both Chelsea and Liverpool will only be able to mount serious challenges for the Premiership title if they have the requisite depth and the League Cup is just the forum to reveal whether they have what it takes.
Liverpool’s six victories from six games in the league puts them top of the standings, but is not necessarily the foundation of success. Twice before they have begun the league with six straight wins and while they went on to win in the 1978-79 season, they were runners-up in 1990-91 despite starting strongly.
Chelsea faltered at game six on Sunday after winning their opening five and were held by West Ham United. They now sit second, along with champions Manchester City, just two points behind.
It promises to be a fascinating and informative few days ahead with TAB soccer customers having much to look forward to.
And TAB soccer pools offer many chances to bet on the two games, ranging from Soccer 1 to Soccer 13.