BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson is expecting a tight contest when Liverpool face Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday evening.

The ex-Reds defender believes the focus of the game will be on the battle between Virgil van Dijk and Chelsea’s new signing Romelu Lukaku. However, he is backing the Blues to go with a conservative approach to get a result:

“This will be a very tight game and Chelsea are strong defensively too, but the Blues will take a draw now. We won’t get open football because you don’t want to give anything away. It is still early in the season but if Chelsea win at Anfield, it is a massive statement.”

Lawrenson has gone with a 1-1 scoreline, which is a fair prediction, especially considering he usually backs his former club to win.

His thinking is likely to have been influenced by Chelsea’s good start to the season, having won the UEFA Super Cup, as well as securing league victories against Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

Liverpool certainly haven’t been poor in the opening weeks of the campaign either, although it will be a big test for the likes of Van Dijk and Joel Matip, who have only recently returned from long-term injuries. This game could be decided by the finest of margins.