Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has named an unchanged team for today's hotly-anticipated Anfield clash with Chelsea.
FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Skrtel, Sakho, Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez
SUBS: Jones, Toure, Agger, Cissokho, Alberto, Aspas, Sturridge
CHELSEA: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Kalas, Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Matic, Salah, Ba, Schurrle.
SUBS: Hilario, Ake, Cahill, Van Ginkel, Baker, Willian, Torres.
* Give Sturridge's susceptibility to injury, it's probably a good thing that he's on the bench, and he'll make a fantastic super-sub late in the game.
* Allen and Lucas in midfield doesn't fill me with confidence, and if Norwich City can overrun the Reds with those two in the middle of the pitch, then Chelsea can certainly do the same.
* For me, though, the biggest potential concern is Sakho in defence. His passing is good, but the French defender is shaky in possession, and often falls apart when put under pressure. I have a feeling that Chelsea will exploit that today.
* Chelsea's team is 'weak' by any stretch of the imagination. The only significant players missing (apart from Cech, Terry and Ramires, who were out anyway) are Oscar and Eto'o.
Pre-Match Analysis
Mark Lawrenson
"The way Liverpool are playing at the moment I don't think there will any nerves whatsoever. People talk about teams getting tired but I can tell you - because they are playing so well, Liverpool would play every single day and be happy. I expect them to blow Chelsea away today."
Jamie Carragher
"It won't be easy because Mourinho sides are very good in big games. His record in big games, wherever he's been as a manager, has always been great and he'll plan to stifle the opposition, get that result and get out of there".
Jamie Redknapp
"Even with his best side available, I still think Liverpool would win the game. If Jose feels they have a better chance in Europe then that is his decision"
My prediction: 2-2 or 2-1.
Author: Jaimie K
FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Skrtel, Sakho, Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez
SUBS: Jones, Toure, Agger, Cissokho, Alberto, Aspas, Sturridge
CHELSEA: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Kalas, Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Matic, Salah, Ba, Schurrle.
SUBS: Hilario, Ake, Cahill, Van Ginkel, Baker, Willian, Torres.
* Give Sturridge's susceptibility to injury, it's probably a good thing that he's on the bench, and he'll make a fantastic super-sub late in the game.
* Allen and Lucas in midfield doesn't fill me with confidence, and if Norwich City can overrun the Reds with those two in the middle of the pitch, then Chelsea can certainly do the same.
* For me, though, the biggest potential concern is Sakho in defence. His passing is good, but the French defender is shaky in possession, and often falls apart when put under pressure. I have a feeling that Chelsea will exploit that today.
* Chelsea's team is 'weak' by any stretch of the imagination. The only significant players missing (apart from Cech, Terry and Ramires, who were out anyway) are Oscar and Eto'o.
Pre-Match Analysis
Mark Lawrenson
"The way Liverpool are playing at the moment I don't think there will any nerves whatsoever. People talk about teams getting tired but I can tell you - because they are playing so well, Liverpool would play every single day and be happy. I expect them to blow Chelsea away today."
Jamie Carragher
"It won't be easy because Mourinho sides are very good in big games. His record in big games, wherever he's been as a manager, has always been great and he'll plan to stifle the opposition, get that result and get out of there".
Jamie Redknapp
"Even with his best side available, I still think Liverpool would win the game. If Jose feels they have a better chance in Europe then that is his decision"
My prediction: 2-2 or 2-1.
Author: Jaimie K
I predict a sloppy Chelsea, bad passing, bus parking etc. Liver by 4+
ReplyDeleteThis is some tactic by Mourinho to save face if he loses - not that their players are bad, but doubt they will the chemistry and organization of his regular team.
Allen AND Lucas. And that's still a bloody good Chelsea team.
ReplyDeleteBefore we commence with another ass-clenchingly tense top of the table clash, let's hear some appreciation for one of the men who made this all possible - David Moyes (pictured here, lapping up the atmosphere at Anfield).
ReplyDeleteFirst game in forever that doesn't feature Terry and Cahill - big problem for Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteAnd Chech
ReplyDeleteWell his big game record against Barca was kinda s***....
ReplyDeleteYou missed hazard jamie! Even he's out..
ReplyDeleteI'm as nervous as hell ,and i can't believe it myself,i can't wait for the match to start and get it over with .Come on you redmen get the three points. Cheers
ReplyDeleteput ur seatbelts on ladies and gents and enjoy the ride...here we go again CMON REDMEN!!!!
ReplyDeleteSunderland game finished. F***, feels like when you're getting ready backstage, and then the dude comes in to tell you, 'you're up next'
ReplyDeleteive never been this anxious. i think we might stumble today. i hope not, but i really think it will happen.
ReplyDeletei think my mindset is all wrong, i must be a cynical pessimist in the end.
prove me wrong reds, pretty please.
have some faith...we go again
ReplyDeleteLets not get ahead of our selfs, nothing is won as yet. Play your heart out lad.
ReplyDeleteEvery time we've been tested this season we've come up with a massive performance. No reason to anticipate anything other than a powerful display and an emphatic win for the reds.
ReplyDeleteAlso I'm not convinced by Matic, think he's too static for the premier league.
Another gerrard slip against chelsea. Oh my god.
ReplyDeletetime for sturridge
ReplyDeletewtf is this
ReplyDeleteffs
ReplyDeleteLucas off, Sturridge on?
ReplyDelete"Stumble"... prophetic choice of words!
ReplyDeletethat's cruel.......
ReplyDeleteTerrible mistake, but even if LFC lose this game, I'm not fussed. The Reds will still win the league; this just makes it a little more nail-biting.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, lucas is useless in this game.
ReplyDeleteyou're counting on city to f*** up...
ReplyDeleteI-Hate-Myself
ReplyDeleteCity won't f up. We need a point here.
ReplyDeleteyep totally lucas fault for the goal...
ReplyDeletethat being said, we said that all the time yet they kept fing up
ReplyDeleteCoiutinho and Suarez need to lift badly that Kalas is getting the better of Suarez.
ReplyDeleteWhy scapegoat Lucas?
ReplyDeleteThe pressure is on now but we can bounce back in the 2nd half. Chelsea not doing much to cause us trouble. Sturridge on!
ReplyDeleteWe will get 3. Release Sturridge!
ReplyDeleteWell, for all that Stevie G has done for the team over the years, and he's been just incredible, if that costs us the title then at least he knows who's fault it would be and he couldn't blame anyone else.
ReplyDeletethis team won't lose. trust them. they're just too good and its scripted for Sturridge now.
ReplyDeleteI'm not scapegoating him, I just don't think he's making enough impact. we need goals. chelsea are going to absolutely park the bus now.
ReplyDeleteIts scripted for Sturridge now.
ReplyDeletecome on let's make some noise its not over there's another 45 minutes to go come onnnn
ReplyDeletelucas has played well bet u wouldn't posted that if it was 0-0
ReplyDeleteI don't see how that mistake can cost LFC the title. How is Gerrard's mistake any worse than the dozen mistakes made at various times in the season?
ReplyDeleteBloody Ba. He has been absolutely gifted goals recently!
ReplyDeletei think adam is being ironic jamie
ReplyDeleteThis is the problem when you have Lucas and Allen in midfield. Absolutely zero goal-threat, and when the team is chasing the game, both players are incapable of stepping up and making an attacking difference.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Whyyyy oh whyyy Henderson did you get that red card...
ReplyDeletehe's right, I'm not
ReplyDeleteright time right place fair play to him ...liverpool pass about from the back so we are prone to these types of errors ba has dome his homework
ReplyDeleteTo single Lucas out is harsh, I accept he could contribute more goals but his main role as a defensive midfielder has been good!
ReplyDeletewell the irony of gerrads mistake costing us the title isnt lost on me anyway
ReplyDeleteI know but attacking against this ultra defensive team is a larger priority than defending.
ReplyDeleteIf Lucas is playing as a defensive midfielder in this game, then what is Gerrard doing? I don't expect him to score goals, but he and Allen don't make chances, or provide assists, either. Suarez, Sterling and Coutinho can't do it every game, which is why you need other players to step up to the attacking plate, and Lucas/Allen can't do that.
ReplyDeletejust going to post how much we miss hendo a mid field of allen,lucas,allen is a very average one ...no pace no goals
ReplyDeleteTo be completely fair on Allen he was blatantly ignored by Coutinho on two separate goal scoring opportunities. One of Lucas/Allen has to go though. Allen has more pace, so I'd sacrifice Lucas.
ReplyDeleteAllen had a very good half in attack and defense. Lucas looks like a tourist unfortunately.
ReplyDeletethats because he cant hit a barn door
ReplyDeleteit's not like Henderson score goals for fun...
ReplyDeleteShould have played him though.
ReplyDeleteRemind me: what exactly did Allen do in an attacking sense in the first half? Specific examples please.
ReplyDeleteI really do hope we get a more dynamic midfielder in the summer, buy with what we have now, Allen will be the one to make the attacking runs! How do you think Lucas has played so far?
ReplyDeletebut he runs from deep and creates space
ReplyDeleteagaisnt chelsea's defensive unit that would make no difference.
ReplyDeleteimo we need to replace gerrad,lucas and allen
ReplyDeleteSturridge warming up.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it yourself after the match. I'd say there were about half a dozen turns, three or four good dribbles carrying the ball in dangerous areas, and a lot of good movement. You are setting the bar for what "attacking" means at an unrealistic height for a central midfielder.
ReplyDeletePlease. Every player makes runs etc. Allen has made zero specific attacking impact. He's created no chances; no significant key passes, and no assists.
ReplyDeleteKeep pushing guys!
ReplyDeletewe really need to pull either allen or lucas out!
ReplyDeleteok now thats done
ReplyDeletecmon sturridge
ReplyDeleteOne hell of a shot
ReplyDeleteohhhh
ReplyDeleteHaha. Joe Allen, right on cue. That's what constitutes a significant attacking contribution.
ReplyDeleteThat joe Allen strike was for you JK:)
ReplyDeletenext step is hitting the onion bag
ReplyDeletelet it go in 1st the u can mock JK
ReplyDeleteNot mocking just pointing out the irony, taking into account everything JK has said today!
ReplyDeletewe need pts tnyt guys gee we r not oursleves
ReplyDeletesako ....normal service resumed
ReplyDeletewhatever happens sterling has been superb hes everywhere
ReplyDeleteSchurrle is such a magnificent player. Such a shame to see him basically playing as a wing back in this appallingly negative Mourinho side.
ReplyDeleteappauling 2nd team or not we cant break them
ReplyDeleteI think I will give up on this one. Chelsea are sold in the back and we don't have a plan b on how to break them down. Let's just hope city drop points.
ReplyDeleteSturridge doesn't look match fit at all.
ReplyDeletewat other choices do we have JK
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying he shouldn't have come on.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the players will have a more combative attitude to the game with 20 minutes still to play!
ReplyDeletethis bus terminal is surely hard to break down
ReplyDeleteunfortunately we have no other options to break it...only hope is palace
ReplyDeletegerrard trying hard
ReplyDeleteStevie thinks it's 2005 again
ReplyDeletethats a given for the entire squad
ReplyDeleteCome On Pool!!!
ReplyDeleteaspas!!!!
ReplyDeletelooks like we will be cheering for palace tnyt
ReplyDeleteaspas to save the day
ReplyDeleteAspas!
ReplyDeletePalace and everton need to save our season now.
ReplyDeletefeel sorry for stevie he dnt deserve this
ReplyDeletegreat stuff torres on we can play with 1 at the back
ReplyDeletewats with suarez
ReplyDeleteLet's go old fashion, get it out wide & cross it in!
ReplyDeletewe need to stop shooting from far... and play sterling behind the defence!
ReplyDeletewell it was in our hands now its in palace and evertons
ReplyDeletecome on guys 4mins
ReplyDeleteF***ing Aspas. WTF was that?
ReplyDeleteagreed
ReplyDeleteShould be slapped silly!
ReplyDeleteAspas Crap
ReplyDeletecantbelieve this boring Chelsea side once again f,,,kd us
ReplyDeletetitle is gone
ReplyDeletetitle over
ReplyDeleteaspas is absolutely useless. rubbish. Sell him.
ReplyDeletea poor player doing what he does
ReplyDeleteSuarez and Sturridge are rubbish sell them too...
ReplyDeleteGary Neville can't contain his pleasure can he. Thought we did pretty well today, unlucky not to get something from the game. Going to be a crazy couple of weeks.
ReplyDeletewell u knw wat they were rubbish tnyt
ReplyDeletechelsea have out smarted us today jose has played mind games all week
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I'm talking about when I go on about loss of utility and the waste of transfer funds. If Rodgers had not wasted £35m on dross like Aspas, Alberto, Borini, Assaidi et al, then Rodgers might've been able to call on a better quality player than Aspas today, and that player might have made a crucial difference.
ReplyDeletethe team has been rubbish today theyve thrown the title swith both hand.
ReplyDeleteThe title is still very much on. Nothing has been thrown away.
ReplyDeletethe problem is that nobody wanted to go to Liverpool
ReplyDeleteur so ryt JK I agree with u totally on this comment
ReplyDeleteshelvey is head and shoulders above aspas and co and we sold him for peaniuts
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteRodgers went in with the wrong tactics today. We only needed a draw, Chelsea needed the win.
ReplyDeleteDamn, this is going to be one of the most nail biting finishes to a season ever.
ReplyDeleteall to play for now we need 2 wins
ReplyDeleteHE CAN'T HIT ONE ACCURATE PASS. HOPELESS.
ReplyDeleteyep
ReplyDeleteAbout from that corner I thought Aspas did quite well considering he has barely played all season.
ReplyDeleteYou serious? That's absolutely no excuse. He trains every day. He's paid millions of dollars. He was fresh. And he couldn't hit a simple pass like that...
ReplyDeleteAll that money Chelsea paid for players and all they do is park the bus piss weak.
ReplyDeleteand we will need City to drop points. Their goal difference is better than ours.
ReplyDeleteshattered guys ok even though CL is wat we wanted we are soclose its just so hurt u knw
ReplyDeleteNot sure about that. We lost the game cuz our anchor man failed to control a simple pass on the half way line. Not sure Chelsea would have stood so firm without that lead to hang on to.
ReplyDeletePlease city, drop only 2 of your last 10 points and we will be happy.
ReplyDeletexactly what are these nervous nellies on about there is a team at the top that has the best chance of winning it all
ReplyDelete2 wins and plenty goals
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm serious. Screw thinking about the money and going from training to a game is a big step up. He actually played some nice passes and set Sterling through down the line which we almost scored from.
ReplyDeleteFunny Sturridge wasn't match fit but Aspas was fresh, the guy haven't played a match this year...
ReplyDeletethat doesn't change the fact that he's not good enough
Mourinho did the same against Atletico Madrid.
ReplyDeleteAND ITS OVER........ ITS ALL OVER, I TOLD YOU WERE GOING TO JINKS IT BY TALKING NONE SENSE........ PL TITLE WILL NEVER RETURN TO ANFIELD EVER AGAIN THATS IT!
ReplyDeleteWell that's a victory for 19th century football
ReplyDeleterogers is the author of his own downfall in this regards he went with the only tactics he could with players at his own disposal if he hadnt wasted money on aspas and alberto and co he would have had better players at his disposal to vary tactics
ReplyDeleteno we lost because chelsea sat back and therefore we never had the chance to counter attack. Its a must win for Chelsea, we could have just let them come out of their shell before finishing them off.
ReplyDeleteLFC are still top of the league.....Stop talking like its gone already.....The other 2 are relying on us to F####k it up. We still have the biggest say in what happens from here...
ReplyDeletehope we don't see you on this site again
ReplyDeleteSturridge was more match fit than Aspas but Sturridge was not physically fit.
ReplyDeleteMatch fitness is sharpness and is more mental while physical fitness is physical fitness.
He also played two terrible passes in the final 7 minutes that curtailed LFC's attacking momentum.
ReplyDeleteif city win their game (which they will) they are champions on a better goal difference
ReplyDeleteAgreed, City have the edge BUT they have to win both their games in hand. It's going to be very very tight, just like we knew it would.
ReplyDeleteCome on Palace :-)
ReplyDelete*SIGH* you dont understand anything... even we win both games man shity is champion...... got it now?
ReplyDeleteWell, we did it to Chelsea all those years, playing hard defence and getting cheeky goals to win it. Ironic for them to now be the team to play the compact game and lobbing long throws into the box, but it worked. We always had to beat both Chelsea and City to get there and I don't think anyone should be too surprised that we lost one of those games. City may still drop points and we can still have it but ... I'm actually not expecting it.
ReplyDeletewe knew Chelsea would play like that, it's not a surprise... after the goal in the first half the game was lost the second goal doesn't change anything.
ReplyDeleteim quite happy for gary neville to post
ReplyDeleteI think we have a better chance with everton than palace, everton have something to fight for.
ReplyDeletewhy?? because i tell the truth!! Its because of people like you that jinks the title saying 'we are already champs bla bla bla RUBISH!!
ReplyDeletePalace are in fine form and defensively they are watertight.
ReplyDeletethe game was lost way before that unfortunatly
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't the only one. I honestly thought he played well when he came on in a high pressure scenario considering he hasn't played regularly all season. He won't be exactly in a positive state of mind either and that can effect players performances.
ReplyDeleteYes your right thats why Chelseas not a great club the great ones fans want entertaining football.
ReplyDeleteThey still have to win those games. Not easy ones either.
ReplyDeletei came from the future and chelsea won 2-0 so yea
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome to post here, but stop being deliberately antagonistic. Remain civil, or go elsewhere.
ReplyDeletePalace and Everton will be no pushovers, especially with current form from them and City.
ReplyDeletea training and a match are 2 differents things, doesn't matter if he was so fit he could have enter a bodybuilding contest he was not MATCH fit
ReplyDeletearghhhh city scored. seriously, you still confident we'll win jaimie?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's say they win each of their remaining games by 1 goal, leaving them on a +60 GD... and Liverpool beat Palace by 4 and Newcastle by 6, we'd win on goals sc....
ReplyDelete...oh bollocks Dzeko just scored.
Dzeko has just scored for Citeh
ReplyDeleteHey, you're not the only one. YNWA
ReplyDeleteSorry just re-read your message yes you are right, but you need game time to get that fitness that he lacked
ReplyDeleteWhat gives you such great confidence....
ReplyDeleteThe force is strong with this one :-)
ReplyDeleteObviously he wasn't fully match fit but compared to Aspas yes but thi still highlights one of our biggest problems. No one to bring off the bench, it's like we don't want to sign a big name player to replace one of our current starters. I think one position we need is an attacking midfielder because at times Coutinho does not cut it. Also Coutinho's shooting is awful.
ReplyDeletegeez the only time i'm right about a result it's city going for the title... feel like goind to bed until the world cup
ReplyDeleteJaimie, you can't be serious!
ReplyDeletewell more than coutinho you HAVE to have more than 1 attacking midfielder anyway, yes the bench has cost us this season but unfortunatly nobody wanted to come last summer, hopefully we'll fix that in the summer
ReplyDeleteI kind of want to upvote the bottom part... It's like "I've just wrote all this... ah f@$k it I'll leave it anyway."
ReplyDeleteLFC don't need to sign big names to sit on the bench; What the club needs is for Rodgers to buy good quality back-up players, and he has singularly failed to do that. Borini, Aspas, Alberto, Assaidi, Sahin, Cissokho etc; the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteOnce you all let time heal the pain of this loss a bit, you'll realise Liverpool are still very much in it. City haven't won at Palace yet, and they're yet to play at their bogey team.
ReplyDeletetitle over guys we need to rely on everton seriously
ReplyDeleteCity massively pumped up by our loss..... they'll never drop points in a million years
ReplyDeletei hope but City have already Slip too much to again f*cked up, some people will talk about everton, but they'e starting to fell short in their CL fight.
ReplyDeleteyeah ok
ReplyDeleteLets hope this year is year a million and one nothing is ever given in this game anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhat has Tony Pulis done to Palace? I saw them a couple of times at the start of the season, they were awful, like amateurs really; and now they look organised, diligent, creative... it's amazing. That match isn't over yet. And their full-back, Ward, wonder if he might be worth a look for Liverpool? Looks a solid and somewhat talented player.
ReplyDeletescrew ayre for not getting salah or kono in jan. Our options are so limited on the bench.
ReplyDeletegreat club or not mourinho now how to win important matches, Brendan will learn from that just lie he have learn from last season.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong I don't think Aspas is good enough but I feel at times it's a bit harsh to label him a flop. I feel Assaidi and Alberto are the same but there is still some time for Alberto.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean a big player to sit on the bench but a player to compete with Coutinho, a different type of attacking midfielder who could be used to change how we're playing at the time or how we start a game. Also like you said we need good quality back up players. When Henderson got sent off, it actually popped into my head "our season is done here." We have Lucas and Allen to replace Henderson. that show's how much we have needed Henderson this season, two players to replace him. That changed our formation and may have taken the wind out of sails a bit by doing so.
Sad to see us lose but the Chelsea defense and surprising speed just stifled us from the get go. I was afraid of their defensive skill and we just got smothered despite all our possession. They took our speed away. I feel awful for Stevie. A tie would have been ok but a loss is a serious blow....
ReplyDeleteHopefully, I was hoping we would have done that in January to be honest.
ReplyDeleteTitle over? Get a grip
ReplyDeleteSo much for their second string team...
ReplyDeleteexcept Kalas (wihich he put to pretend like it was a second string team) the other players have been chelsea PL first XI
wat grip ok get realistic citeh are winning ok we need them to drop points against everton ryt so why the smart ass reply!
ReplyDeleteYes for Salah but it wasn't Ayres fault with Kono. Their chairman refused to sign the deal. The deal was done.
ReplyDeleteat least we didn't buy more useless player to sit on the bench...
ReplyDeleteNot antagonistic. I warned everyone to stop speaking to soon and they chose to not hear me.......
ReplyDeleteThat's true.
ReplyDeleteKnee jerkers like you are a joke
ReplyDelete