23:30 on October 4th, Chelsea vs Liverpool: Impressive stats, harsh reality

04/10/2025 07:19:00 ScoreStream

After the first six matches, Chelsea (61.7%) and Liverpool (65.5%) top the Premier League in average possession percentage.

They are also two of the five teams with the highest goal tallies so far, with "The Blues" scoring 11 and "The Kop" 12. Other stats like shots on target are comparable—26 for the hosts and 28 for the defending champions. Chelsea’s chance conversion rate stands at 23.4%, while Liverpool’s is 19.4%.

Liverpool is far from perfect…

If we disregard their league standings (one leading, the other ninth) or their recent dips in form, this match looks like a contest between two of the Premier League’s most in-form clubs currently.

In theory, the reigning champions are not truly in crisis domestically. Their only defeat was to Crystal Palace—who beat them on penalties in the Community Shield earlier this season.

This loss can be seen more as a "nemesis" issue, since the London side is particularly dangerous against possession-focused teams like The Kop or Man City.

However, defensive problems building up from the Community Shield until now have completely changed the perception of Liverpool’s playing quality. What once seemed like winning despite imperfect displays and late goals—a sign of a title contender—has shifted to doubts about their potential to improve over time.

No one can keep scoring decisive late goals forever, and their energy will eventually run out at unexpected moments. Sooner or later, failing to fix defensive flaws will bring punishment upon Liverpool.

There are many "blind spots" in the champions’ defense on both wings and at Konate’s center-back role. Meanwhile, their ability to defend deep has weakened due to too many players preferring to operate in the opponent’s final third. Klopp’s attacking instincts are strong, but his success depends on a solid defensive base.

How the team is adjusted around using Isak or Wirtz, and the positional demands on Frimpong and Kerkez, will be crucial in the clash against Chelsea. This could help Liverpool regain defensive tightness, reduce risks behind the backline, and exploit the home side’s vulnerabilities.

In reality, both Liverpool and Chelsea face many challenges

… but Chelsea’s are much worse

One reason for Chelsea’s recent slump is injuries to key players, which have made it difficult for the team to regain the rhythm shown at the FIFA Club World Cup. This also explains coach Enzo Maresca’s cautious personnel choices recently.

Chelsea do not follow a fixed pattern against different opponents, as flexibility is a hallmark of the Italian coach. Yet if their transitions from defense to attack via wide triangles are a special weapon for "The Blues," the goals they conceded against Man United, Bayern Munich, and Brighton share a common feature: poor flank defending, which contrasts sharply with last season.

Five of the London club’s 13 goals across all competitions have come from counterattacks, but even more goals conceded result from Gusto and Cucurella’s failure to control opponents’ wing attacks.

Additionally, constant changes in defense have caused a lack of organization and stability throughout the system. Meanwhile, Enzo and Caicedo’s midfield control is weak or they do not get enough support from surrounding players.

Chelsea often "collapse" when opponents increase pressure and press aggressively in their own half, as seen against Man United and Bayern Munich. Building play becomes especially difficult without Cole Palmer, a key figure in shaping "The Blues"’ style in specific situations.

Another factor affecting Chelsea’s playing quality is their young players, who often lose composure under heavy pressure, leading to individual mistakes or rash decisions. This is reflected in the consecutive red cards during recent losses.

Overall, Maresca’s team faces many problems similar to last season’s Man City regarding handling defeats, and their current ability to fix defensive mistakes is very limited. This could happen again against a tougher, more resilient Liverpool.

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