Closed Chelsea v Liverpool

[Blue Gino 377]

Yeah Eto'o missed some chances but it's gotta be tough not knowing when you're playing and the few chances you get define if you're playing next match. Just like DeBruyne, Willian, Schurrle and Mata. The only sure things getting penciled in are the back four, Lampard, Ramires and Hazard. Eto'o needs to play with another striker up top so he can make his cutting runs, he's not built to stand with his back to goal and pretend to be Didier. He and Ba would work really well with Ba holding up the ball and Eto'o slashing past him. Torres has had his lion share of chances, I say let Eto'o get another run out there but in tandem with Ba.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Call me crazy but I wouldn't mind seeing Willian play deeper in a 4-3-3 with Lamps and Mikel.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Then I hope we go out there, take the game to them and show them we're the better side. I have a sneaky suspicion that won't happen and that we'll defend with a low block, concede possession and play on the counter at home against a team we're significantly better than.

Well, that's always a possibility, but I was surprised that we didn't do that against City who are by far better than Liverpool. I don't expect us to leave acres of space behind our back four, butt I'd be very surprised if we played as defensive as we did vs Arsenal.

The only think I worry about vs Liverpool in that we seem to have some sort of mental block against them in the league. Since 2009, they've beaten us in 3 of the 4 matches at the Bridge in the EPL. I trust that Jose will be working on the mental side as well.

[HD3D 1,038]

I don't know what people here are panicking about. I mean, it's Liverpool and Suarez, are you kidding me? A slightly above-average club and a good striker who has been amazing for the past... ehm, 4 months?

So far this season we have faced Bayern Munich (the same Bayern that trashed Barcelona 4-0), Manchester City, United and Arsenal, and didn't crack with any of those. In fact, we put up a good fight with all of them. And now people here are scared because of Suarez and Liverpool? lol please. Let's not forget this is a club that will throw a party and keep the manager forever if it gets top 4 at the end of the season.

While not as in form, we are much better than them. We are a top club with a top manager and we have a history of punishing those who think they'll have it easy against us (e.g. Barcelona/Bayern @UCL 2011). If they are blinded by Suarez's great form and think playing Chelsea will be a walk in the park, then they'll be in for a big surprise.

I can't wait.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I don't know what people here are panicking about. I mean, it's Liverpool and Suarez, are you kidding me? A slightly above-average club and a good striker who has been amazing for the past... ehm, 4 months?

So far this season we have faced Bayern Munich (the same Bayern that trashed Barcelona 4-0), Manchester City, United and Arsenal, and didn't crack with any of those. In fact, we put up a good fight with all of them. And now people here are scared because of Suarez and Liverpool? lol please. Let's not forget this is a club that will throw a party and keep the manager forever if it gets top 4 at the end of the season.

While not as in form, we are much better than them. We are a top club with a top manager and we have a history of punishing those who think they'll have it easy against us (e.g. Barcelona/Bayern @UCL 2011). If they are blinded by Suarez's great form and think playing Chelsea will be a walk in the park, then they'll be in for a big surprise.

I can't wait.

Don't get all cavalier unjustly, the reason why there is caution is because Suarez has been brilliant and Chelsea have been inconsistent all season... No one can predict which Chelsea side will show up.

Do I think we have the qualities to win? Absolutely! But I also see Liverpool as a very dangerous very capable of putting 3-4 past us... Its not the game to start talking about how brilliant a side we are.

[Jase 43,479]

Not sure if anyone realizes this but we have actually not beaten Liverpool in the league since 09/10 season! Record since then has been LLLLDD. A win here on Sunday would be great especially when this Liverpool side is arguably better than in recent seasons!

[lionsden 4,689]

Going by some of the comments in this thread you'd think we're playing Brasil's 1972 team. Liverpool are punching WAY above their weight and wouldn't be near the top four with out Suarez. Mark him out of the team and our squad is better than theirs in every single position. Let's not overrate Liverpool just because City had a terrible game against them especially in defense.

Teams depending on its best players shocker. that statement applies to virtually every team in the world and shouldn't be used to discredit their achievement. moreover they are the ONLY team in the league to give MCFC a real challenge at the etihad this season and were very unlucky not to have gotten anything out of that game.

we can use some overachieving too as we have been punching way below our weight this season, performance wise.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

My sentiments exactly. Tired of coming here and reading 'we're Chelsea we should win easily' As if anything has ever been easy for this team. We've been inconsistent and that inconsistency should always be in the back of everyone's minds despite who it is we're playing against... There have been more nervy W's than easy cake walks and more draws and loses than sure things. Liverpool will come here full of confidence and give us a real game, we need to show up or we will get opened.

[The_Flash 1,144]

My sentiments exactly. Tired of coming here and reading 'we're Chelsea we should win easily' As if anything has ever been easy for this team. We've been inconsistent and that inconsistency should always be in the back of everyone's minds despite who it is we're playing against... There have been more nervy W's than easy cake walks and more draws and loses than sure things. Liverpool will come here full of confidence and give us a real game, we need to show up or we will get opened.

Totally we REALLY need to show up!!

[Toli 977]

Frank Lampard UK ‏@FrankLampardUK 3m

Brendan Rodgers: "I probably wouldn’t be sat here today if it wasn’t for Jose [Mourinho]. He played a huge part in my career." [Mirror]

Even though he is coaching the wrong team, Rodgers is a really good dude

[lionsden 4,689]

My sentiments exactly. Tired of coming here and reading 'we're Chelsea we should win easily' As if anything has ever been easy for this team. We've been inconsistent and that inconsistency should always be in the back of everyone's minds despite who it is we're playing against... There have been more nervy W's than easy cake walks and more draws and loses than sure things. Liverpool will come here full of confidence and give us a real game, we need to show up or we will get opened.

And there I was thinking we are the crown jewel of Europe and possess the best squad on the planet playing the most fluid, jaw dropping and breathtaking football. stop ruining the party you.

[Zola's Flick 57]

I'm really looking forward to the last game of the year. The Bridge should be in good voice, what with it being a 4pm Sunday game against a title challenger who we aren't exactly best friends with. A good atmosphere can only help the players.

It's genuinely fascinating to find out which tactics Jose adopts on Sunday. In the last two games we have gone back to basics, or more specifically back to his more preferred style of play, especially in the game at Arsenal. I can definitely foresee Jose employing a 4-3-3 with Essien-Mikel-Lampard across the middle, then Hazard and A.N. Other out wide with probably Torres up top. By the same token, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if, like with the home game against Man City, he uses the 4-2-3-1 by playing Mata or Oscar off the frontman. Personally, my cautious self thinks we should go with the former, cos Liverpool are a real threat on the counter as they proved at the Etihad, but ultimately I approve of whatever Jose goes with.

Ramires will be a big loss for us, no doubt about it. Especially in a game like this, cos a fairly static midfield including any or all of Mikel, Essien and Lampard against mobile, nifty midfielders like Allen, Henderson and Coutinho is a cause for concern.

I haven't seen a great deal of Liverpool lately but clearly they have been on a good run. In the two games I did catch on the box, away at Tottenham and City they were very good. They shift the ball very quickly from back to front and if you let them play in front of you they still have the creativity to create chances, so there's no ideal way of playing them really. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to note that their achilles heel is defending set-pieces. Almost half the goals they've conceded this season have been from penalties, corners or free-kicks, something I feel Jose will look at and look to exploit with the aerial ability of JT, Cahill, Ivanovic and a couple of others. I don't think Gerrard is half the player he was now his legs have caught up with him and, if anything, their midfield probably plays better in the big games without him but they're without Enrique at left-back who I rate highly (especially compared to Aly Cissokho ) and Sturridge who, were he playing, would be a surefire bet to score against us again.

I think it has the makings of a great game. Reading the previous posts in this thread I feel a few people are too pessimistic (predicting two or three goal defeats!) while others are underestimating them.

If we score I see it being from either a set-piece, counter-attack (they sometimes leave themselves exposed, like for City's second) or maybe, just maybe, Torres will finally banish some demons against them. Suarez will probably notch or create a goal.

Hate predicting matches like these but if I had to I'd go with 1-1. We preserve our unbeaten home record under Jose in the league, they go away happy knowing how tough it is to get a result at the Bridge.

C'mon you Blues!

[Blue Warrior 109]

Bring on another pretender. Jose has sent his students packing so far. Chelsea to edge the game 2-1, Liverpool have failed too turn up against the elite.

[Irakozium257 350]

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm salivating at the random thought of us battering those scum 5-0 or just a score of 3 or more goals than them, with Torres netting a hat-trick!

I hope we play a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1-like formation where Oscar can use more of his defending abilities now that Ramires is suspended, and help Mikel and Lampard as much as possible. In my opinion we shouldn't concentrate with a lot of energy on Suarez, but more on the midfielders behind or besides him, Henderson, even if he looks awkward running, is good at reading passes and knowing where to be when they have the ball, the same with Sterling and Coutinho. They're the ones that need to be nullified to the fullest.

4-3-3:

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz Terry Azpi/Cole

Mikel

Oscar Lampard

Willian Torres Hazard

4-5-1:

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz Terry Azpi/Cole

Mikel

Willian Oscar Lampard Hazard

Torres

[Yeboii 1,844]

Mikel to get a hat trick

[AndersonBLUE 819]

A nice, relaxing Sunday afternoon for Chelsea fans

[Mustafa 885]

We're shit against Liverpool..... Will be a really tough one

[Chelsea Buzz 487]

I think the guys may be starting to hit their stride, though it has not shown on the scoreboard due to the lack of ability to finish opportunities. I have a good feeling about this one. 3-2 Blues in their best effort of the year. Torres, Hazard and Terry.