Alan Shearer delivers scathing Chelsea prediction as Liverpool has 'big opportunity'

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesAlan ShearerLiverpool welcomes Chelsea to Anfield on Sunday knowing that a win will virtually guarantee Champions League qualification for next season for the RedsAlan Sherarer has given his prediction for Liverpool versus Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)Alan Shearer is backing Liverpool to take a huge step toward Champions League qualification when the Reds face Chelsea this weekend.Chelsea visits Anfield off the back of six successive defeats in the Premier League, which is a run of results that has seen the West London club fall out of contention to qualify for the Champions League.Liverpool, on the other hand, can virtually secure a top-five finish with a win in Saturday's game, after putting together three straight league wins prior to last weekend's loss to Manchester United.Former Premier League star Shearer believes that Arne Slot's men will come out on top."It’s a big opportunity for Liverpool here," Shearer said in his Betfair predictions. "Chelsea look a mess, don’t they?READ MORE: Liverpool rejected chance to sign Man Utd flop weeks after Arne Slot took chargeREAD MORE: Arsenal could beat Liverpool to dream transfer that would make it unstoppable"I don’t know how many times I’ve said it, but whatever happens at the top of the club always filters down onto the pitch, and that’s exactly what’s happening now."It looks as if their players are trying to get through the season to the FA Cup final, and then see what happens."I can’t look past Liverpool to win this one, and that would secure Champions League football after what’s been a really disappointing season for them."Having watched Chelsea v Forest the other night, Chelsea were shocking, they were abysmal and there has to be a massive improvement from that, because you can’t just turn it on and off."You can’t just turn up and think, oh, we’ll get through to the FA Cup final and see what happens.Calum McFarlane is the Chelsea manager at the moment(Image: 2026 Robin Jones)"They’re really struggling now for European football next season, let alone Champions League football.

I just don’t know what to expect from Chelsea."Going into this weekend's action, Bournemouth, Brentford, and Brighton are the only teams that remain mathematically capable of overtaking Liverpool,A win for Liverpool against Chelsea, though, would make it mathematically impossible for Brentford and Brighton to catch the Reds, while Bournemouth would need to win away to Fulham later on Saturday to keep the gap to Liverpool down to six points ahead of the final two games of the season.Liverpool has a far superior goal difference to Bournemouth, though, which is why a win over Chelsea would effectively secure Liverpool a top-five spot with two games in the season to spare.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCAlan Shearer