2018-19 Premier League: Week 35 – Cardiff vs Liverpool

Cardiff City welcome Liverpool to the Cardiff City Stadium for a huge Super Easter Sunday clash, which could have major ratifications for both ends of the Premier League table. 

A win will draw Cardiff level on points with Brighton whereas Liverpool will return to the league summit with all three points despite Manchester City having a game in hand.

 

Team news

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Cardiff could have Aron Gunnarsson available after a back injury forced him off during their 2-0 win at Brighton in midweek. 

Harry Arter skipped that game with a calf strain and will also be absent here, ahead of a must win match at Fulham next weekend.

Sol Bamba (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), Callum Paterson and Matthew Connolly (both ankle) remain long-term absentees. 

Liverpool are set to welcome Dejan Lovren back to the squad after the Croatian sat out their midweek trip to Porto with illness. 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain however misses out as he continues to build up his match fitness after nearly a year out with a knee injury. 

 

Form

Cardiff enter this match with just two wins in their last eight and one in their last four home games. 

Liverpool meanwhile come here on an eight match winning streak in all competitions and have won their last four away games, having drawn the previous three beforehand. 

 

Stat Attack

• Liverpool have won their last five meetings with Cardiff but failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those games. 
• Last three meetings have seen a combined 18 goals with Liverpool netting on 13 occasions to Cardiff’s five. 
• No goalkeeper has conceded more league goals than Cardiff’s Neil Etheridge this season with 63 goals let in. 
• Only two Liverpool players have made last man tackles this season compared to four last season. 
• Liverpool’s win over Chelsea last weekend ended a four match run without a clean sheet, which is their longest domestic run of conceding in league matches all season.  

 

Prediction 

Given the swathe of quality throughout the Liverpool team, I cannot see past them for a comfortable win but their defence however isn’t the most consistent. 

Cardiff therefore really need to target that defence because if they can get a goal or two, it could prove significant come the final day but won’t change the result much here. 

Prediction: Cardiff City 1-3 Liverpool

Jake predicts: Cardiff City 1-3 Liverpool

Result: Cardiff City 0-2 Liverpool