Chelsea vs Liverpool: Preview

Liverpool are heading south this weekend to face newly-crowned Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool find themselves facing, by far, the best team in the league at an abhorrent time. Chelsea have won nine of their last twelve games, four of those coming at The Bridge.

After a surge following the winter break Liverpool haven’t looked themselves since Easter and throwing in a devastating semi-final exit from the FA Cup, they may consider themselves lucky to have scraped two home victories against Newcastle and QPR.

Source: liverpoolfc.com

Winning at Anfield isn’t an issue, five of the last six games played there have resulted in victory for Rodgers’ men. It’s playing away from home that has proved difficult in recent weeks. The Reds haven’t won an away game since March 16^th at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium.

Chelsea, having now won the league title, have no need to win their remaining games and can now relax, as shown by the team taking four days off during the week.

Liverpool’s next three games are vital for any chance of Champions League qualification. With Manchester United running through a patch of poor form (three defeats on the trot), being just ahead of Rodgers’ Reds by only four points and set to face Arsenal among their final three games it would really pile the pressure on should Rodgers get his first victory against Chelsea as Liverpool manager.

That being said, Chelsea aren’t exactly just going to roll over and allow Liverpool to play as they want. That would be very unlike Mourinho.

There is a chance that Chelsea may play some of their second string players however. I’d expect one or two of Petr Cech, Filipe Luis, Loic Remy or Kurt Zouma to be in the team but I don’t Chelsea to weaken their squad by any means.

Liverpool have will have a fit Balotelli and Lucas Levia to take to London.

I expect Liverpool to return to having three at the back against Chelsea, in favour of attempting to dominate the run of play in the midfield.

With Mignolet in goal, it’s pretty clear he’ll have Skrtel, Lovren and Emre Can ahead of him if Liverpool do play with a trio of centre backs.

Source: liverpoolfc.com

Even though Lucas is almost certain to travel I’m not so sure he’ll start, I certainly think it’s possible but I expect to see Joe Allen partner Jordan Henderson at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield.

I’d expect Moreno to return to the left flank for Liverpool and Jordon Ibe to be on the opposite with both players having bags of pace, being capable of being a threat on the attack and also able to defend competently.

It has happened many times this season and whether some fans like it or not, Steven Gerrard is certain to start against the opposition. He was the eventual hero against QPR at Anfield and I hope he can produce another moment of magic for the club he adores this weekend.

Speaking of magic, another player almost certain to start is Coutinho. Even though Balotelli is fit again and Lambert put in, arguably, a decent shift against QPR, I expect to Raheem Sterling play in-front on Phil and Stevie.

I will anticipate the introduction of Mario Balotelli if Liverpool are in need of a goal in the second half and if things aren’t going Liverpool’s way I would expect Lucas to join the party at halftime if he isn’t already on the field, to allow Liverpool to flood the midfield in an attempt to take control of the game.

All that being said, here is how I see Liverpool lining up against Chelsea:

Liverpool are going to need a few heroes this weekend and hopefully Gerrard, Mignolet, Skrtel, Coutinho, Henderson and Sterling step up to the plate like they have done sporadically this season and steal three points from the champions. Failure to do so would almost surely mean Europa League football at best for The Reds next season.