Although things are beginning to look a lot brighter for Chelsea offensively, they still have some work to do at the back and it’d be a surprise if Liverpool don’t find a way through to test the keeper at least three times.

It’s something that Chelsea have failed to prevent in five of their seven league games including each of the last four. Those four matches have come against Bournemouth, West Ham, Brighton and Nottingham Forrest. Not the toughest of games you’d think, yet across them, Chelsea were forced into an average of 6 saves per 90.

Chelsea’s defence will be even more vulnerable on Sunday given Cucurella and Fofana will both miss out through suspension having accumulated five yellow cards. The pair have both started every league game under Maresca and could lead to two Chelsea debuts being handed out at Anfield.

Liverpool have forced the opposing keeper into making at least three saves in six out of seven matches this season, including each of the last four. The average in their matches has been 4.29 which indicates a high probability of success here.

Last season Colwill was a dependable contender in the fouls market, averaging 1.25 fouls per 90 minutes in the Premier League and committing at least one in 15 of his 23 games.

He’s been similarly reliable this season, sinning at least once in each of his last seven starts across all competitions with five of those occasions coming in the league.

He’s going to have to take a bit more defensive responsibility on Sunday in the absence of Cucurella and Fofana which combined with Liverpool’s tricky forwards, spells trouble for the Englishman.

Amongst the strongest options in the fouls market is Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been a reliable contender in the market over the last couple of seasons.

He ended his first Premier League campaign with an average of 1.24 fouls per 90 minutes but has since raised his intensity with that average increasing substantially to 1.67 under Arne Slot.

Across his thirteen appearances in all competitions this season, Szoboszlai has committed at least one foul in all but one match – the sole exception being Liverpool’s comfortable win over Milan at the San Siro. In the league, he’s seven for seven, and yet the bookmakers continue to price him significantly longer than the likes of Gakpo, Diaz and Mac Allister.

If anyone was still doubting Palmer’s ability in front of goal after last season, surely they can’t be now, given the Englishman’s 11 league goal contributions.

He’s been a great pick in the shots on target market, averaging 1.66 per 90 this season and testing the keeper at least once in six out of seven league games. His form is well in line with what he achieved last season where he completed the camping averaging 1.58 per match.

Although Liverpool have been strong defensively, they’ve conceded 3+ shots on target in each of their last five, averaging 4 per 90 despite the relatively straightforward opposition they’ve come across.

Even if Chelsea do struggle to break Liverpool down, Palmer has already fired off 11 shots from outside the box this season, with four making their way on target and two finding the back of the net.

It comes as no surprise that Salah has had a superb start to the season in front of goal and it seems that once more the bookmakers seem to have overvalued him in the shots on target market.

The Egyptian has averaged 2.23 shots on target per league game this season but has also been equally prolific in the Champions League. Across the two competitions, Salah has hit the target at least twice in six out of nine matches.

Chelsea have been pretty open at the back so far this season, conceding an average of 5.57 shots on target per 90 including nine last time out against Nottingham Forest. Salah will be Liverpool’s main threat and is likely to come up against a Chelsea debutant following Marc Cucurella’s suspension. Whoever it may be will surely struggle against Salah and it’s far from a stretch to suggest the Liverpool ace will be able to beat his man and test the keeper at least twice.

Nicolas Jackson has had his critics since his move to London and while it would be disingenuous to suggest they’re all unfounded, his shortcomings haven’t prevented him from offering great value in the shots on target market.

So far this season only Nkunku can top his average of 1.88 shots on target per 90 which has seen him fire off at least one in all eight of his appearances for Chelsea. That includes Chelsea’s opener against Man City when he was one of only three to test Ederson.

You might be surprised to hear he was also a force in this market last season, where he averaged 1.32 shots on target per 90.

As mentioned, Liverpool have allowed 3 or more shots on target in each of their last five matches, averaging 4 per game despite not coming up against any overly impressive opposition sides.

Chelsea have picked up 27 yellow cards so far which is the most of any side in the Premier League, resulting in an average of 3.86 per game.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have seen their players enter the book on just fourteen occasions this season, the third-fewest in the league and almost half that of Chelsea.

Looking at direct card clashes, Liverpool have found themselves the cleaner of the sides in five out of their seven league games with both of the exceptions coming away from home. Meanwhile, Chelsea have received more bookings on five occasions, tying one and only coming out bottom once.

Anfield can be an imposing venue for referees and could easily affect the mindset of John Brooks, who will be refereeing just his second top-flight match of the season.

Madueke, priced at 1.83 to take 2+ shots probably represents the standout value in the match and there’s plenty of evidence to back it up.

The English winger is averaging 4.13 per 90 in the league this season, having hit the threshold in five of his six games, only failing to do so when taken off early against Brighton.

Across all competitions, Madueke has made 10 appearances this season (25+ mins), with that game against Brighton remaining the only match he hasn’t fired off at least two shots. That’s despite him only playing for 34 minutes against Servette, 25 minutes against Finland, and 40 minutes against Greece.