Chelsea v Liverpool is the match of the weekend in the English Premier League, even though both teams go into tomorrow's clash at Stamford Bridge off the back of uncharacteristically poor performances.
Liverpool's feeble 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina on Tuesday night left Rafa Benitez more angry than at any time in his five years as manager and he will be expecting a big reaction from his players in the first of their crunch clashes this season against another of the big four clubs.
Chelsea at least won their Champions League tie, 1-0 away to Apoel Nicosia on Wednesday night, but their second-half display still prompted Carlo Ancelotti to 'talk Italian' in the dressing room afterwards. That turn of phrase has fast become a euphemism for Ancelotti's anger - so angry that, at this stage, he is unable to express his feelings in English - and the latest bout of Italian straight-talking came hard on the heels of another outburst following the 3-1 league defeat at Wigan last Saturday.
Against that background, many punters will be wary of relying too heavily on either team, but even the best sides are entitled to the odd bad performance and in betting it is usually a mistake to put too much emphasis on the most recent result.
Overall, Chelsea and Liverpool have plenty of plus points, both this season and in the longer term, though on balance Liverpool represent the best value on the handicap for this match.
Liverpool's form in big-four clashes on the road has been transformed in the past two seasons, with only one defeat out of six in that important category. Before that, in Benitez's first three seasons, Liverpool had lost all nine away league games against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.