Four pundits, one verdict: Liverpool to win at Anfield. The bigger story is Chelsea's slide, with six straight Premier League defeats, a ninth-place position and fresh criticism of Cole Palmer's role in the side.

Why the pundits are all backing Liverpool

Alan Shearer called it “a big opportunity for Liverpool here” and said Chelsea “look a mess”. Chris Sutton was just as blunt, saying Chelsea have “bigger problems” and are “absolutely desperate for a result here” after six straight league defeats.

Paul Merson turned the fixture into a must-win for Liverpool, warning that Arne Slot “cannot afford to go into a situation where they put Champions League qualification for next season at risk.” That matters because Liverpool are fourth, six points ahead of Bournemouth in sixth with three games left.

Chelsea, by contrast, have gone six Premier League matches without a win. They were beaten 3-1 by Nottingham Forest on Monday and sit ninth with 48 points from 35 matches. On those numbers, backing them to suddenly find a result at Anfield feels optimistic.

Palmer's role is under the microscope

The sharper criticism from the pundits was aimed at Chelsea's attacking structure. Merson said he does not understand why they were using Cole Palmer as a right-winger, insisting he is “a no.10”. He also said Chelsea letting Nicolas Jackson leave was a mistake because he “brought the best out of Palmer”.

That fits the wider theme around Palmer's recent level. His Premier League average rating is 7.02, which is still respectable, but it does not match the sort of influence Chelsea want from their best attacker. Sutton added that Palmer “looks a shadow of the player we know he is”, and the last five matches average of 6.68 across all competitions tracked here backs up the sense that his form has dipped.

Clinton Morrison's view was less about one player and more about the whole club. He said Chelsea need “a top-quality manager who can steady the ship”, while also pointing to recruitment and the squad as problems.

The unanimous prediction is the easy part. Chelsea's recent run, their league position and the debate around Palmer all point in the same direction, and the more convincing reading is that Liverpool should be favourites to take advantage.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →