Join us for a helping of European soccer picks and expert insight from Saturday and Sunday’s top fixtures.
Read on for this week’s soccer analysis and betting previews from the top European leagues, where we’ll provide you with the best bets and odds from the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, and more.
Liverpool FC vs. Chelsea FC
Saturday, January 21, 2023 – 07:30 AM EST at Anfield
Liverpool
We’re used to seeing Liverpool and Chelsea battle at the summit of the EPL table, but on an extremely rare occasion, this weekend’s clash will be a meeting between a tenth-place Blues squad and a ninth-place Reds team.
That said, Jurgen Klopp’s men are just five points shy of fifth-placed Tottenham, and a positive streak could soon boost them back into Champions League positions, if the results elsewhere go their way, of course.
Liverpool enters Saturday’s showdown after a 1-0 FA Cup success over Wolves, a commendable performance considering Klopp fielded a weaker starting XI than usual. The same cannot be said for the Reds’ domestic results of late, though, as they’ve lost two consecutive games with six goals conceded, with Brighton and Brentford causing successive upsets for the Reds.
Chelsea
Life at Chelsea hasn’t been any greater; the Blues ended a three-game winless run with a 1-0 win over Palace last weekend. But this doesn’t deter from the bigger picture, where Graham Potter has claimed just one victory from nine EPL games before the Palace game.
Road games don’t favor the Blues, losing five of their previous ten EPL away meetings. Furthermore, they’ve failed to win any of their last five domestic road trips, and their numbers would be even worse without the brilliance of Kai Havertz’s last time out.
Pick and Prediction
Chelsea has won just one of their eight EPL games, and their past four meetings with Liverpool ended in a draw. Long-term and short-term historical stats aren’t boding well for Potter’s men heading into Saturday’s game, but no matter how we coat it, neither team is worth risking with a moneyline wager.
Liverpool cannot defend, and Chelsea is consistently struggling in the final third, but these squads cannot continue their dreadful form without severe consequences. For this reason, we expect a more open game as both squads hunt for goals, making the over 2.5 goals or both teams to score two tempting wagers.
Both teams have scored in six of Liverpool’s previous seven EPL games, and Chelsea has scored in all but one of their last four Premier League away meetings.
Soccer Pick: Both Teams to Score/Yes (-150) at Caesars Sportsbook
Juventus FC vs. Atalanta BC
Sunday, January 22, 2023 – 02:45 PM EST at Allianz Stadium
Juventus
Following a 5-1 dismantling of the league leaders Napoli last weekend, Juventus are now 10 points shy of the first position and will be desperate for three points on Sunday as the Serie A title slips further from their grasp.
The bounce-back spot on Sunday will be viewed as a must-win situation by head coach Massimiliano Allegri. If Juventus fail to achieve victory, their title hopes will be faced with a 13-point deficit if Napoli claims all three points against Salernitana.
Current trends favor the home side, at least. Juventus has won their previous five Serie A home meetings and has avoided defeat in 36 of their last 42 league games. They’ve won 8 of their last 9 domestic outings, and this run has heavily assisted them in maintaining a title-chasing chance.
Atalanta
Atalanta is no slouches, and a 5-2 success over Spezia this past Thursday was a statement scoreline Juve should pay attention to. This win marked the fourth successive unbeaten game for Atalanta, and they’re also undefeated away from home in eight of their last nine Serie A games.
Red flags can be flown for Atalanta’s ability to defend goals. Gian Piero Gasperini knows how to steer his squad in the final third, but this team maintains one clean sheet in their last five Serie A road trips.
Pick and Prediction
Allegri’s squad hasn’t lost on home soil this term, but their record against Atalanta has a lot to be desired. Juve has failed to win five of their last six meetings with the Nerazzurri, but we know that goal-scoring is common for both strike forces.
With that said, expecting over 2.5 goals is value we can get behind at the best sportsbooks, as Atalanta has seen this number hit in six consecutive Serie A meetings.
Soccer Pick: Over 2.5 Goals (+100) at Caesars Sportsbook
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