MrExcalibur100

That's your opinion which I think is a load of shite as well. He wasn't even man-marked for large portions of this game but was still ineffective. Fabregas has been nowhere near good enough either offensively or defensively in any of the big games so far. The only thing of note being his exquisite pass to Costa for the 2nd goal. It's early days and it might be harsh but that's the brutal truth. I'm not going to make excuses for him or any player.

Re-watching the game, Fabregas was IMO, chiefly at fault for Liverpool's goal. Instead of getting back into position, he was ball chasing Moreno whose running lane was already shut down by Ramires. Moreno plays a pass to Sterling in acres of space, the position Fabregas was supposed to be in, Matic then has to try and close down Sterling and block his path to goal. Sterling instead just makes a simple pass to Emre Can and bang! Goal. This is not the first time he's chasing the ball instead of holding his position. It's tactically naive considering the role he's playing.

Even if that's true, which I don't agree with btw, that has little to do with comparing teams.

Like I said, that's not his game at this moment of his career, neither in Lille or in Chelsea. He has always been more of a creator, far more than a goal scorer. For instance, against Maribor, he created six chances for his teammates and opened up lanes with his dribbling ability. You can't expect him to be good at something he's not yet comfortable doing on a regular basis and might not or never be and I can more than appreciate that. It's a case of eating your cake and having it, that's why I can never understand the constant bickering about Hazard when he doesn't score, dribble, shoot, pass, track back etc.

Costa's ripped shirt is analogous of the man's character. A true warrior who doesn't hide when his team needs him!

He has to be able to deal with being man marked. He was also man-marked vs Palace as well for instance and had a great game but they are an average team. Even average players get man-marked during games. It's nothing special. Normal tactic. It's no excuse for his impotence in big games. As for being injured, just for the sake of argument he was, doesn't explain his Man United performance.

So Bale is the 3rd best player in the world?! You rate him very highly indeed. As for shooting and running, I'm thinking Sunderland away last season, his first goal away or Hull away, so he can do it. It's not just his game.

If you're a great, world class player, this is not a legitimate excuse to be utterly invisible.

I called here it in a thread during the summer that was comparing our squads since the Abramovich era and I said this was the strongest Chelsea in the Roman era and by extension, of all time. Better than the 2005-07 squad and the Ancelotti one. and I'm sticking with that. We still have won sweet fuck all though!

It's by far the weakest area for us. Good enough to see us over the line but we need way more quality brought in in the summer.

I don't know if it's a rest issue or something else. I'm not liking what I'm seeing from Cesc in the big games. He needs to demand the ball way more instead of trying to be a ghost.

(1) This. (2) This. (3) And that. His body language suggests that. There's no point in trying to force the issue as the goals will come more from open play. He should know we don't rely on him for goals like last season so he should be more relaxed. It's not like he has zero goals. He's scored 5. Aside from that, his all round game has been immaculate. I didn't see the 1st half but in the 2nd, he looked by far our most dangerous attacker. Again.

Ramires will probably have missed.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EAT THAT YOU SCOUSE BASTARDS!!

Is it? He's diving towards the ball but he's not even looking at it when Gerrard blasts it on his hand. No penalty.

Is that Costa's 5th yellow?

Typical. Playing on the counter with only a 1 goal lead.

We're struggling to hold on to the ball again now they've scored? We can't invite pressure on ourselves again, ffs.

What a run from Azpilicueta!

I just woke up to this. I saw Ramires has started today (Lol! Typical Mourinho) Has he done anything of value?

The league suits him perfectly and he's on a tear right now, but it has to be noted that the teams he's been scoring against are of very poor quality. Still, when a world class player is available, we have to get involved. Our RW was a notable weakness last season. I can't remember any significant rumours even linking us to him, which was somewhat disappointing.

I was pleading for the signing of Alexis Sanchez. It's was a no-brainer really, he fits into our side like a glove. Mourinho probably felt that we had enough with Schurrle and Willian but its becoming clearer with each passing match that neither are really good enough for Chelsea.

The fact that Hazard completed so many dribbles today also highlights the terrible positions he was receiving the ball.

Yet, we could only score from a set-piece. Our play was uncoordinated from minute 1-90.

More like haphazard, desperation tactics. I would have done the same thing in my Football manager!