Liverpool’s lightning forward can catch Chelsea cold in USA

Liverpool’s pre-season to date couldn’t have begun much better from a results perspective, with a perfect record of four victories secured and a goal yet to be conceded.

Granted, Chelsea will be expected to present a much sterner test than Tranmere, Fleetwood, Wigan or Huddersfield, but Jurgen Klopp’s men have the added advantage of having more pre-season outings under their belts to improve match sharpness than their opposition in California.

Despite this, Liverpool are the 6/4 underdogs to secure victory in a game that marks the 2016 International Champions Cup debut for both teams.

Identifying which players will feature in this friendly for the Premier League pair is difficult, although Sadio Mane has made a positive impression when appearing in the triumphs over Wigan and Huddersfield.

Philippe Coutinho has already commented that Mane is “too fast” and the pace of the Senegalese international adds another string to Liverpool’s creative bow.

His keenness to run in behind is especially valuable in Klopp’s high-pressing system and across his Liverpool’s friendlies to date, Mane has fired in more shots than he has created chances.

The 24-year-old has previous for downing Chelsea too, scoring once and generally proving a menace in Southampton’s 3-1 success at Stamford Bridge last season.

It is 13/5 that Mane scores in the 90 minutes again.

The expectation is that both Klopp and Antonio Conte will start with strong sides, before gradually bringing on their squad players and youngsters as the second-half develops.

This is one reason why the 1/1 that the second period is the highest scoring at the Rose Bowl looks profitable.

Over half of the matches to have taken place as part of the International Champions Cup so far this summer would have seen this bet be a success.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.