“The key battle will be in midfield” - Alan Shearer predicts winner of Liverpool vs Chelsea

All eyes will be on Anfield as Liverpool host Chelsea on Sunday, October 20, in a high-voltage clash. England legend Alan Shearer opined that the winner of the match will be the team that controls the midfield.

The Premier League returns after the penultimate international break of the year with the heavyweight clash headlining the gameweek. Anfield will witness high-flying Liverpool take on a resurgent Chelsea to keep the top spot in the table.

Previewing the weekend's matches on the Mirror, Alan Shearer claimed that Enzo Maresca's Chelsea would be happy if they avoided defeat at the home of the table toppers.

"Chelsea will be happy to walk away from Anfield with a point, despite the injury to Alisson. I know they dropped points in their last home game vs Forest, but I would imagine Enzo Maresca would snap your hands off for a point here," Shearer said (via Metro).

The former Newcastle striker added that the midfield battle will be key and picked the Reds' trio to overcome the visitors' midfield.

"The key battle will be in midfield, where I think Liverpool have been strong. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis MacAllister have been superb, alongside Dominik Szoboszlai," he added.

Shearer, however, threw caution to the wind, saying that the match's result could be swayed depending on the fitness of the players returning from international duty. He picked the Reds to win if both teams have a fully fit squad for the clash at Anfield.

"The international break always makes it a little bit tougher to call, as you wait to see how players are when they return to their clubs, whether they’re ready or not to start the game," Shearer said.

"If everyone is fit and everyone plays, that midfield battle will be key, and I think Liverpool will come out on top," he concluded.

Neither team are dealing with an injury crisis at the moment.

How Liverpool and Chelsea look going into the match at Anfield

Liverpool are currently top of the table with six wins in seven games. Chelsea, on the other hand, are fourth in the league with four wins and two draws.

Enzo Maresca will be eager to help his side reverse their record at Anfield. Chelsea have won just one of the last nine matches they've played away to Liverpool, losing thrice, including a 4-1 loss the last time the two sides met. Arne Slot's side have lost just two of their previous 19 matches against the Blues.

The London club are the second-highest goalscorers in the league with 16 goals, one fewer than defending champions Manchester City. The Merseysiders, on the other hand, have conceded the fewest goals (two) and kept the most clean sheets with five shutouts.