Saturday's early kick-off at Anfield pits two of English football's behemoths against one another, but this season, their clash feels less like a heavyweight bout and more like a battle for survival. Both Liverpool and Chelsea have flattered to deceive, leaving fans and pundits alike scratching their heads.

Consider Chelsea's current run of form: the Blues have lost each of their last six Premier League games. To put that in perspective, only once in their league history have they ever lost seven in a row—back in November and December of 1952. That's a stat that's as jarring as it is historic.

On the other side of the pitch, Liverpool haven't fared much better. The Reds have lost 11 Premier League matches this season, their most since the 2014-15 campaign under Brendan Rodgers, when they lost 12. Across all competitions, they've suffered 18 defeats—a number they haven't surpassed since the 2009-10 season (19 losses).

If you're looking for defensive woes, both teams have them in spades. Chelsea have conceded in each of their last 13 Premier League games, shipping three goals in four of their last five. Their last longer run without a league clean sheet came between March and August 1991 (17 games)—a streak so long that Bryan Adams topped the UK charts with "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" when it finally ended.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have conceded two or more goals in 16 different Premier League matches this season. Only in the 2012-13 campaign have they done so more often in a single season (17 games).

So there you have it: two big-name clubs making a mess of things at the moment. A fixture that once lit up Champions League semi-finals on an almost annual basis now looks more like a chance for someone—anyone—to salvage some pride.