After a mid-week preview, can Chelsea spoil Liverpool’s flawless Premier League season and knock them off the top spot this Saturday, at 5.30pm on BT Sport 1?

The Reds went into the week’s 3rd round EFL Cup fixture without a single blot on their form sheet. Domestically they’d picked up 6 wins in 6, with 14 goals scored and only 2 conceded (the latter number the best in the league), while in Europe they secured a potentially crucial 3 points against Champions League Group C rivals PSG.



Yet a simply stupendous solo effort from Eden Hazard put an end to that on Wednesday night. Liverpool has taken the lead just before the hour mark thanks to Daniel Sturridge, with Emerson equalising 20 minutes later. And then, with 5 minutes left, the Belgian wonder – who has a Super Mega PGM of 31-37, a price only bested by Mohamed Salah’s 33-39 – scored his 6th goal of the nascent season to spoil the Reds’ spotless run.

Not that the Blues particularly in need of a boost. After a disappointing loss in the Community Shield, Maurizio Sarri bedded into the Premier League quickly, with 5 wins and, most recently, a draw at West Ham. But, despite the result on Wednesday and the fact the fixture is at Stamford Bridge, the Reds have looked irresistible in the league, with Spreadex offering a narrow Liverpool/Chelsea (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.9-3.1.

Before all that a miserable Man United travel to West Ham at 12.30pm on BT Sport 1. At loggerheads with Paul Pogba, Jose Mourinho is very much in 3rd season-mode, the Portuguese manager walking about with an air of toxicity and a permanent scowl. The latest problem was Tuesday’s EFL Cup penalties defeat to Frank Lampard’s Derby; that was the club’s 3rd loss in 8 games in all competitions, and has only heightened the already unpleasant atmosphere at Old Trafford.

West Ham, meanwhile, appear to be coming out the other side of their own early crisis. The East London club had started the season with 4 league losses in a row, from a 4-0 hammering at Liverpool to a 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves. Yet they recovered with a 3-1 win at Everton, followed by a respectable goalless draw against Chelsea. Wednesday then saw a proper EFL Cup knees-up, romping to an 80 victory over League Two’s Macclesfield.

Even with their visitors apparently in crisis, however, the hosts face an uphill battle to keep on the right track, with Spreadex offering a Man United/West Ham (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.6-0.8 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.7-2.9.

Finally Sunday sees Cardiff try and crawl out of the relegation zone when they host Burnley at 4pm on Sky Sports. The Bluebirds haven’t adjusted well to life back in the Premier League. They are one of only 3 sides without a win, and have conceded more goals – alongside 20th place Huddersfield – than any other side in the league. Their most recent game was a true schooling, as defending champions Man City came away from Wales with a 5-0 victory.

Burnley haven’t been a lot better. Following on from their disappointing attempt at qualifying for the Europa League, it took until last weekend for the Clarets to register a win, an admittedly impressive 4-0 home victory over Bournemouth. That might not be enough on Sunday, however, with Spreadex offering a Cardiff/Burnley Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.15-2.35.