Liverpool vs Chelsea Prediction – PL Round 36 (May 2026)

Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield on the 9th of May 2026 in what promises to be a fascinating Premier League Round 36 encounter. The Reds are strong favourites on home soil, though the confirmed team news introduces a meaningful twist: Freddie Woodman starts in goal instead of the regular Alisson Becker, a drop in quality that Chelsea's attackers will certainly note. Liverpool's recent home form is encouraging — wins over Crystal Palace (3-1) and Fulham (2-0) at Anfield show they remain formidable on their own ground. The defensive partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté is one of the Premier League's finest, and their ability to contain Chelsea's physical forwards will be central to the outcome. In midfield, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, and Frimpong provide a dynamic and hard-working unit, while Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai carry the creative burden in the final third. The absence of a natural centre-forward is a question mark, but Liverpool's fluid system can generate chances through movement and combination play. For Chelsea, the trip to Anfield comes at the worst possible time. They have won just once in their last five league matches, suffering heavy defeats to Manchester City (0-3), Brighton (0-3), and most recently Nottingham Forest at home (1-3). Confidence is low and their defensive structure has looked porous. Yet their attacking lineup is objectively dangerous: Cole Palmer, arguably one of the most creative players in the Premier League, leads the attack alongside Liam Delap — a powerful, direct centre-forward — and João Pedro. If Chelsea can rediscover any of their better-form performances, they have enough quality to cause Liverpool problems, particularly with Woodman in goal. The midfield battle will be fascinating. Chelsea's engine room of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, and Roméo Lavia is well-constructed in theory, but has struggled to impose itself in recent weeks. Liverpool's pressing game, amplified by the Anfield atmosphere, could disrupt Chelsea's rhythm from the first whistle. Ultimately, the weight of home advantage, Liverpool's stronger current form, and Chelsea's psychological low point make a Reds victory the most likely outcome. We expect both teams to score — Chelsea's attackers are too good to be completely shut out — and a 2-1 Liverpool win appears the most probable scoreline. The confidence in this prediction is moderate given Alisson's absence and the individual talent Chelsea possess in the final third.