Liverpool travel to West London on Sunday desperate to close the gap on fourth placed Chelsea who still have hopes of mounting a challenge for the Premier League title.
Andre Villas-Boas’ side have endured a tough couple of weeks after being turned over by Arsenal at the end of October with the Blues back line coming under increasing scrutiny since that game. The ease at which the Gunners tore through the Chelsea defence time and time again alarmed the Stamford Bridge supporters and brought into question captain John Terry’s mentality and capability to perform against the leading top flight forwards. Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott both made the England skipper look extremely ordinary with his lack of pace and mobility costing him and his side dearly. However he hasn’t been helped by having to play with three different partners at the heart of the Blues defence with David Luiz and Alex failing to convince Villas-Boas that they are competent enough to cope in the Premier League. Branislav Ivanovic has looked like the only player capable of striking up a chord with Terry although the Serbian is the preferred choice at right back ahead of Jose Boswinga who is seen as the weak link in Chelsea’s rearguard. Despite all that the Blues have emerged victorious in four of their last six league games but performances haven’t reached the levels expected by supporters. Despite having a front line boasting the talents of Fernando Torres the Spaniard has continued to struggle and his lack of goals and general all-round displays continue to worry the Blues fans. The same cannot be said for Juan Mata, Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge with the trio proving to be the players that make Chelsea tick. They’ll need to be at their absolute best to overcome a Liverpool side in a fixture that has taken on a rivalry of it’s own with the sides meeting each other 34 times in all competitions over the last 10 years.
Kenny Dalglish’s men are in a similar boat to Sunday’s hosts with performances proving to be unappealing despite a run of positive results and the Reds have remained undefeated in the six games since they were battered 4-0 by Tottenham in mid-September. Dalglish’s summer signings have taken time to integrate themselves into the Anfield way of life but have finally begun to gel much to the delight of the Scot. However supporters have been unhappy with the level of their sides recent displays despite the club remaining unbeaten in half a dozen games since the defeat in North London. Home draws against promoted sides Norwich and Swansea along with Manchester United have done nothing to give the fans hope that the club can make a push for the a top four. Three points from a possible nine on their own turf isn’t the form of a team that aspires to finish in the upper echelons of the Premier League although their away form has been surprisingly solid. The Reds have won three games from five on their travels and look a much more disciplined unit on the road with Dalglish guiding his team to victories at Arsenal, West Brom and local rivals Everton. They will be put to the test at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with Luis Suarez missing with injury and Andy Carroll once again flattering to deceive up front. The £35 million record signing has looked a shadow of the player that took the top flight by storm with Newcastle and his lack of goals is starting to become a major concern. With no Suarez for the trip to the capital Liverpool fans must be wondering who will be the one to step up to the plate in attack.
Chelsea – 4th
Last Five
Won 1-0 v Blackburn (A), Drew 1-1 v Genk (A), Lost 5-3 v Arsenal (H), Won 2-1 v Everton (A), Lost 1-0 v QPR (A)
Potential Starting X11
1. P. Cech 17. J. Boswinga 26. J. Terry [C] 2. B. Ivanovic 3. A. Cole 12. J. Obi Mikel 7. Ramires 8. F. Lampard* 10. J. Mata 23. D. Sturridge 9. F. Torres
Injury News
Villas-Boas has no fresh injury concerns with long-term casualty Michael Essien out unit next year although Didier Drogba and keeper Hilario could return for Sunday’s game.
Key Player
Frank Lampard – After being written off and labelled ‘finished’ after a poor start to 2011 Lampard is making his critics eat their words with a series of breathtaking performances. The midfielder has rolled back the years to regain his position as Chelsea’s lynchpin with seven goals in all competitions. His driving runs from midfield and vision when in possession will be key to unlocking an improving Liverpool back four.
Match Fact
Chelsea’s record at home against Liverpool in the last few years hasn’t be the strongest with a 2-0 win in October 2009 courtesy of goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda their only victory in the four recent meetings.
Liverpool – 6th
Last Five
Drew 0-0 v Swansea (H), Won 2-0 v West Brom (A), Won 2-1 v Stoke (A), Drew 1-1 v Norwich (H), Drew 1-1 v Manchester United (H)
Potential Starting X11
25. P. Reina [C] 2. G. Johnson 5. D. Agger 37. M. Skrtel 3. J. Enrique 14. J. Henderson 26. C. Adam 21. Lucas 19. S. Downing* 18. D. Kuyt 9. A. Carroll
Injury News
Dalglish is without two of his key players for the trip to the capital with captain Steven Gerrard once again confined to the treatment table whilst Suarez is unlikely to play after picking up a back injury although he could take a place on the bench.
Key Player
Stewart Downing -The England winger has slipped into the Liverpool midfield with ease since joining from Aston Villa in the summer forging a good partnership with Jose Enrique. Downing has given the Reds some much needed balance on the left and he’ll be expecting room to operate up against Boswinga whilst his crossing will need to be accurate with Carroll waiting in the penalty area.
Match Fact
Liverpool did the double over Chelsea last season winning with their last visit to Stamford Bridge in February ending with Raul Meireles – now plying his trade for the Blues – scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Last Time at Stamford Bridge
Premier League 6th February 2011
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
Meireles, 69
Attendance: 41,829
Referee: Andre Marriner
PREDICTION
Both sides are still going through transitional periods as they strive to build squads capable of competing with both Manchester clubs at the Premier League summit. New players, new managers and new tactics has seen the top-four hopefuls suffer a stuttering start to the season with encouraging performances mixed with some frustratingly insipid displays. Chelsea’s defence hasn’t looked as watertight as it has done in previous seasons and will need to be as rigid and uncompromising as possible to snuff out the threat of Carroll and Kuyt who are expected to start up front for Liverpool in the absence of Suarez.
Score: 3-2
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