VENUE- Stamford Bridge
---SQUADS---------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Finnan, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Alonso, Mascherano, Pennant, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Itandje.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Ben-Haim, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba, Shevchenko, Mikel, Makelele.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Finnan, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Alonso, Mascherano, Pennant, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Itandje.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Ben-Haim, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba, Shevchenko, Mikel, Makelele.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LIVERPOOL TEAM (PROBABLE)
(4-2-3-1)
![Image]()
Reina
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Arbeloa----------Carragher-----Škrtel----------Riise
![Image]()
![Image]()
Mascherano-------Alonso
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Kuyt----------Gerrard---------Babel
![Image]()
Torres
Reina
Arbeloa----------Carragher-----Škrtel----------Riise
Mascherano-------Alonso
Kuyt----------Gerrard---------Babel
Torres
OR
(4-4-2)
--------------Reina-------------
(4-4-2)
--------------Reina-------------
Arbeloa--Carragher--Hyypia---Aurelio
--------------------------------
-------Masch--Lucas--------
------Gerrard--------------Kewell
-------Torres----Crouch/Kuyt------
VS
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Joe Cole------Drogba--------Kalou
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Lampard---------Makelele--------Ballack
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Ashley Cole-------Terry-------Carvalho-------Essien
VS
Probable Chelsea Lineup
Joe Cole------Drogba--------Kalou
Lampard---------Makelele--------Ballack
Ashley Cole-------Terry-------Carvalho-------Essien
Cech
Liverpool have recently had an irregular serial of fixtures where it has been hard to gauge thought on the level of the team, the 1st leg against chelski was complicated and we played partly to our best and the cruel last minute goal leaves us with a big challenge, the following fixture can really shape our season, so we need to build momentum and continuing winning. Playing away we need to be tough and take the iniative from the start, play high tempo and deadly infront of goal, step forward Steven Gerrard
![Image]()
, he has returned been irregular in the last match but now he is needed now more than ever. We need to cut out mistakes stop conceding goals and build up a confidence booster, as we are entering a tough fixture which can swing our season. We also need to keep close in our battle for progress in the Cup aswell as bragging rights, beating our opponents will announce ourselves and be a MASSIVE win both in terms of the competition and the momentum we can reap. The final pass and finishing needs to be worked on as well as the creative part of our game, no doubt Rafa will have spotted it and will work on this, hopefully it pays dividends on the pitch
![Image]()
[*]Rafa has stated now that he has a fully fit-esque squad for a sustained period in this Anfield season, though DAgger is out for the season, hard luck as he was growing in his football, but Skrtel can hopefully recover his loss. Xabi has been poor but in recent weeks has played more minutes to recover near his known level of performance. The success or failure of us lies in how we control the midfield and apply ourselves, Alonso can dictate the best out of every player in the two teams. He can swing the match for us and needs to play his absolute best.![Image]()
[*]Gerrard I feel will play behind Torres with Masch and Xabi in the centre, they are the two players who form the foundation of our team and give the creative spark and control the game. Kuyt I think will play wide right but will always be roaming in attempts to open the opposition defence up and getting into goalscoring positions. Also Babel will most likely play left midfield roaming with Gerrard or Kuyt in the central deep role and all 3 exchanging positions from time to time. Babel needs to grow and show his presence, both in attack and defence. He needs to rise to the occasion and press chelski's fullbacks back and create occasions for us.![Image]()
[*]There have been many players who need to rise and show there football, but ultimately the one player who can achieve the dream for Liverpool more so than any of his team mates is Fernando Torres. This is the big night and date with destiny he has talked about and commented he wanted to play in, this is where the legend of Torres can be born and his first etching into the history of Liverpool can be achieved. Last week he played a quiet game and did not score, missing a few key chances whilst receiving some punishment from Terry and Carvalho. This is the opportunity for him to avenge every kick, hack and abuse dished to him. Torres needs to play with calmness and subtlety, which has served him very well at Liverpool so far, moving into the spaces and demanding the ball, working to break the chelski wall and the possible road to moscow.![Image]()
[*]The importance of a win are high, this is for the sake of momentum and continuing our challenge, hopefully we rise to the challenge, plus considering the competition is taking a rigid shape and we want to keep in touch and also gain momentum a win would allow for us to keep gain progress in the cup and beat our rivals, we had momentum and I'd love for us to sustain that again. We are fourth and if we win can closer to winning the cup![Image]()
this would at least show we're competing again. ![Image]()
[*]A key part of us winning this match will be the defence, we have had a decent amount clean sheets in EPL a greater tally than what we had in previous seasons, we should try and build upon that though we've started to make mistakes, if we cut out the defensive mistakes we can build on that as a foundation and go for the win.
[*]We can win this match, though it will be tough, we'll need to be at our best. Being intense and strong from the start being up for the fight and winning every 50-50, this will allow for us to gain a foothold in the game. We need to play at a high tempo and really attack, the supporters can make there voices be heard in the away end, the crowd can also push us on and give us the extra gear to push that extra bit more. Then we need to take our chances, because they will not be at a premium, we need to be solid and cut out defensive mistakes and take our chances when they come, then hopefully we'd win. Though this is a statement of the obvious.
COME ON REDMEN!!!!!
YNWA
YNWA
