Closed Liverpool v Chelsea

[English Freak 456]

Recently, we have seen BA & Torres sharing the duties. Even if BA starts I still would like to see Torres coming in, let´s say for 25-30 minutes. Somehow, Fernando, runs, fights, passes, even scored... seems to be much better, lately.

If Torres played like this throughout the whole season...we would of won a trophy or two & guaranteed a top 3 finish in the PL by now..

[Strike 7,516]

Conservative? No, we weren't. We completely stifled them for large parts of the game by pressing and forcing them into mistakes, created tons of chances but just didn't take enough of them. We ended up running out of steam and conceding the goal that obviously led to a draw.

we had conceded a lot of goals prior to this game and dropped our intensity/urgency in the 2nd half to protect 1 goal lead. Proved costly as Liverpool finished stronger.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Conservative? No, we weren't. We completely stifled them for large parts of the game by pressing and forcing them into mistakes, created tons of chances but just didn't take enough of them. We ended up running out of steam and conceding the goal that obviously led to a draw.

Not to mention Mata making the miss of his career.

We should have too much quality for them. They like to press the CBs, we'll be fine as long as we don't start Iva at CB. Their midfield and defense is quite error prone. We'll have the game in the bag if we press high.

That said, I'll happy with a point.

[Jase 43,479]

we had conceded a lot of goals prior to this game and dropped our intensity/urgency in the 2nd half to protect 1 goal lead. Proved costly as Liverpool finished stronger.

Was that conservative though as you previously mentioned?

Our intensity/urgency dropped then simply because we couldn't keep it up with the pressing as we have played quite a fair bit of games before that.

[Strike 7,516]

Was that conservative though as you previously mentioned?

Our intensity/urgency dropped then simply because we couldn't keep it up with the pressing as we have played quite a fair bit of games before that.

No. Even in the first half we were a bit conservative. Liverpool were playing 5 across the back. That's why I felt we could've pushed a bit more

[Jase 43,479]

No. Even in the first half we were a bit conservative. Liverpool were playing 5 across the back. That's why I felt we could've pushed a bit more

Just because they're playing 5 at the back, doesn't necessarily mean we should be pushing a bit more though. Would have been difficult to break them down. The plan was to invite them onto us, press them somewhere between 30-40 yards out from our goal and hit them on the break, similar to what we did against Arsenal at SB. The approach was working a treat for long periods of the game but we just couldn't finish our chances and ran out of steam. Had Mata converted that chance just before HT and go on to win the game, we wouldn't be talking about this right now.

[Tomo 21,751]

Conservative? No, we weren't. We completely stifled them for large parts of the game by pressing and forcing them into mistakes, created tons of chances but just didn't take enough of them. We ended up running out of steam and conceding the goal that obviously led to a draw.

Your right, Liverpool were terrible up until their equalizer, one of the worst away displays at SB for some time. Liverpool fans seem to think they were the better team because they had a chance in the last minute

[bushman 2,043]

If Torres played like this throughout the whole season...we would of won a trophy or two & guaranteed a top 3 finish in the PL by now..

Ferda still can play but he needs to sort it out in his head.

Perhaps, he is showing his ability now, so he won´t get dumped out of the team.

[Milan 17,959]

Ferda still can play but he needs to sort it out in his head.

Perhaps, he is showing his ability now, so he won´t get dumped out of the team.

Reminds me of Malouda - always shifted to a higher gear when the final part of the season approached.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Hope e get an undeserved win this time, cos we should have buried Liverpool in the home game but just came away with a draw.

Fact is we got twice the team pool got and they are no more than a one-man mid-table team with a nice attitude against the big boys. This season might have been a nightmare throughout but we won at White hart Lane, the Emirates (ok bad example ), Goodison Park... ok that's it. But my feeling is Anfield road is due a raid again since 2010 - even though our current team is not even half as good as it was then.

[didierforever 7,349]

realistically, just get a point out of the game and a very important point it would be.

now starts the 6 matches that i ve been dreading.

pool (a)

swansea (h)

united (a)

tottenham (h)

villa (a)

everton(h)

we have a head start of a point plus a game against arsenal and 3 points against spurs. with spurs playing city and arsenal visiting cottage, i expect both of them to drop points. so very important that we maintain the difference or just expand it.

cech

azpi iva luiz bert

mikel rambo

moses mata hazard

ba.

i just dont think JT vs suarez would be a good idea.

[oxfordblues 299]

i think 1-2

[Rupert 130]

Since Rafa joined Chelsea it has become a better team than LFC this season. Chelsea should beat LFC on Sunday based on form. But this will be a high pressure match for a number of reasons and the pressure may affect the performance of both teams.

Chelsea have the best manager - Brendan Rogers is only a wet-behind-the-ears apprentice compared to Rafa never having won any trophy apart from a play-off from the Championship with Swansea. He is from Mourinho's coaching staff at Chelsea. He seems to have Mourinho's belief that matches are won by PR or in press conferences - but he lacks the nasty jealous edge of much of Mourinho's utterances. Rogers is not very good at making in-game decisions. He sticks to a rigid formation. He doesn't seem to have control over his team. Hence LFC has been very inconsistent this season - sometimes attacking with verve and scoring freely and the next week unable to get going.

At their best LFC attacks at speed and with some trickery. Suarez is the leader and the highest scorer but his shooting can be wild an innacurate and he wastes a lot of chances. He also fails to pass to team mates in better positions. However, he has a knack of nutmegging defenders and scoring from impossible angles. He would enjoy nutmegging Terry and drawing a red card and penalty from him but doubt that Rafa will select Terry.

Since January, LFC have been joined by Coutinho who is probably their greatest threat after Suarez. He is tricky, direct and aggressive. He outshines Oscar - as a 20 year old Brazilian. He is due for another goal.

Sturridge from Chelsea has settled well and has had some very good games, adding a dimension to the LFC attack. But he is not a guaranteed starter due to his inconsistency and injuries. But this match will motivate him and he might do damage.

LFC will attack at speed from the start. If things go their way early on then I think they could win this match. But their attacks often come to nothing. They lack composure and accuracy in front of goal and have many near misses (e.g. see my remarks about Suarez). If I were manager I would take them by surprise and attack them from the start but in a controlled way suffocating their midfield.

Their midfield is weak and uncertain under pressure and they can be overrun if Chelsea attack as a unit. Their central defenders are suspect. Carragher is on his last legs. Agger has been inconsistent. Their full back Johnson is also inconsistent.

Torres will feel the pressure and I think Rafa will consult him before selecting him. I think he would get the better of Carragher and co this time, but I'm not sure of his temperament in this one. Demba might be a better choice for starter with Torres to be brought on in the second half.

The crowd will give Rafa an enormous welcome. They love him not only for his great skill and achievements as their greatest manager in the last 24 years but also because he is a good, honorable man who has contributed to the community and quietly donated 100,000 pounds of his own money for the Hillsborough cause and much more to other causes in the Merseyside area. They will then cheer Rogers - not because he is held in the same esteem as Rafa but to show Chelsea away supporters how to behave towards a manager even if he comes from a rival team.

LFC have played far fewer games than Chelsea and should be fresher. But they lack motivation. They have played lately as though they are on holiday. It will depend on whether this game rouses them and whether they get off to a good start. They have not scored lately. They should be capable of 1 or 2 especially from a penalty. Chelsea should be capable of 2 or 3.

My first prediction is for a Chelsea win of 3-1 but would not be surprised if it is 2-2

[The Skipper 20,609]

Troll.

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

Does anyone but I think Suarez goal at the bridge should have be disallowed for his push on Rambo

[Ankit 3,176]

Since Rafa joined Chelsea it has become a better team than LFC this season. Chelsea should beat LFC on Sunday based on form. But this will be a high pressure match for a number of reasons and the pressure may affect the performance of both teams.

Chelsea have the best manager - Brendan Rogers is only a wet-behind-the-ears apprentice compared to Rafa never having won any trophy apart from a play-off from the Championship with Swansea. He is from Mourinho's coaching staff at Chelsea. He seems to have Mourinho's belief that matches are won by PR or in press conferences - but he lacks the nasty jealous edge of much of Mourinho's utterances. Rogers is not very good at making in-game decisions. He sticks to a rigid formation. He doesn't seem to have control over his team. Hence LFC has been very inconsistent this season - sometimes attacking with verve and scoring freely and the next week unable to get going.

At their best LFC attacks at speed and with some trickery. Suarez is the leader and the highest scorer but his shooting can be wild an innacurate and he wastes a lot of chances. He also fails to pass to team mates in better positions. However, he has a knack of nutmegging defenders and scoring from impossible angles. He would enjoy nutmegging Terry and drawing a red card and penalty from him but doubt that Rafa will select Terry.

Since January, LFC have been joined by Coutinho who is probably their greatest threat after Suarez. He is tricky, direct and aggressive. He outshines Oscar - as a 20 year old Brazilian. He is due for another goal.

Sturridge from Chelsea has settled well and has had some very good games, adding a dimension to the LFC attack. But he is not a guaranteed starter due to his inconsistency and injuries. But this match will motivate him and he might do damage.

LFC will attack at speed from the start. If things go their way early on then I think they could win this match. But their attacks often come to nothing. They lack composure and accuracy in front of goal and have many near misses (e.g. see my remarks about Suarez). If I were manager I would take them by surprise and attack them from the start but in a controlled way suffocating their midfield.

Their midfield is weak and uncertain under pressure and they can be overrun if Chelsea attack as a unit. Their central defenders are suspect. Carragher is on his last legs. Agger has been inconsistent. Their full back Johnson is also inconsistent.

Torres will feel the pressure and I think Rafa will consult him before selecting him. I think he would get the better of Carragher and co this time, but I'm not sure of his temperament in this one. Demba might be a better choice for starter with Torres to be brought on in the second half.

The crowd will give Rafa an enormous welcome. They love him not only for his great skill and achievements as their greatest manager in the last 24 years but also because he is a good, honorable man who has contributed to the community and quietly donated 100,000 pounds of his own money for the Hillsborough cause and much more to other causes in the Merseyside area. They will then cheer Rogers - not because he is held in the same esteem as Rafa but to show Chelsea away supporters how to behave towards a manager even if he comes from a rival team.

LFC have played far fewer games than Chelsea and should be fresher. But they lack motivation. They have played lately as though they are on holiday. It will depend on whether this game rouses them and whether they get off to a good start. They have not scored lately. They should be capable of 1 or 2 especially from a penalty. Chelsea should be capable of 2 or 3.

My first prediction is for a Chelsea win of 3-1 but would not be surprised if it is 2-2

[Pizy 18,976]

I'd love to see Luiz in midfield with Ramires. He's confidence should be sky high and he's looked sharp going forward lately.

Back line with Azpi, Iva, and Terry should be more than adequate.

[Rupert 130]

For those interested - Rafa's record against LFC is 3-0. When he was manager of Valencia he not only won the Liga twice and the UEFA Cup he also trounced Liverpool three times in European competitions. His team was so brilliant in those matches, completely dominating, that the LFC supporters applauded and LFC started to pursue him as manager (rejecting Mourinhuo in the process). Chelsea is not so completely Rafa's team as Valencia was, since he did not buy any of the players and has not had a pre-season with them, but Rafa will know LFC's weaknesses.

[bushman 2,043]

Reminds me of Malouda - always shifted to a higher gear when the final part of the season approached.

They all do. The amount of games, sometimes I do not blame them much.

[Backstreet09 499]

Chelsea 3-2 with Ferda scoring the winner :blue scalf: