Liverpool are playing the Premier League early kick-off for the second week running, as they entertain Chelsea at Anfield. The leaders, Chelsea, have been on scintillating form since the season’s started. Liverpool, however, have failed to live up to last season’s incredibly high expectations set by themselves.
Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the Premier League could be down to their brilliant summer business. Diego Costa was brought in from Atletico Madrid and has really hit the ground running with 9 goals in his opening 7 games in a blue shirt. Costa has recently returned from an injury and hasn’t quite been on the same form as he was on beforehand. The Spaniard will be looking to rediscover his form at Anfield on Saturday.
Cesc Fabregas was also brought in to Jose Mourinho’s side in the summer. Fabregas looks like he’s never been away from the Premier League. The midfielder is leading the assists chart in the whole of the league, with 9 assists to his name already.
Mourinho’s men will be coming into the game as clear favourites at Anfield, after the side’s contrasting starts to the season. Mourinho is well-known for setting his sides up perfectly in the so called ‘bigger’ games.
Last season’s fixture saw Liverpool effectively throw away their title chances. Mourinho set up his side to just defend and hope to score on the counter-attack. That’s what Chelsea did. Demba Ba and Willian scored for the Blues in a 2-0 victory at Anfield.
Diego Costa celebrating (ChelseaFC.com)
Liverpool lost their last Premier League game, 1-0 at Newcastle. Liverpool also lost by the same scoreline in midweek to Real Madrid in Spain. It was a brave effort from the Reds, who surprisingly fielded a ‘weaker’ side to usual. Obviously Brendan Rodgers denied this claim, but it could be in preparation for this game – as it’s so big for Liverpool.
Liverpool seriously need to find some form. Anything will be good, because they look so disjointed at the moment. They’re going out in games with no game-plan. That’s what it looks like anyway. They don’t look a shadow of the side who challenged for the title last season.
Daniel Sturridge is still out for the Reds, which is a big blow. However, Fabio Borini put in a really good performance on Tuesday night at the Bernabeu. In my opinion, he should start on Saturday. He deserves it. Whether it should be with Mario Balotelli or on his own. It should be with him, that’s my preference.
Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho were both rested from the start on Tuesday. I hope and expect they both start in a diamond. It will most likely be the 4-2-3-1 formation, though. Adam Lallana started on Tuesday, I expect him to be on the bench on Saturday, as he has been in recent weeks. This is despite him playing well when he does play.
Steven Gerrard was rested from the start at the Bernabeu. He will almost definitely start on Saturday. We looked a lot better defensively when Gerrard wasn’t on the pitch, I noticed. Emre Can and Lucas Leiva both defended and passed the ball brilliantly in Gerrard’s absence. Arguably, the two deserve to start. They won’t, however.
Kolo Toure, for me, has to start. Simply has to. The Ivorian was our man-of-the-match on Tuesday. He kept the best player in the world, extremely quiet, for his standards. I don’t know what more he could have done to convince Brendan Rodgers that he should start. I’d go with Toure and Lovren because I think that would work well and we seen signs of a good partnership in the Swansea game, not so long ago.
Alberto Moreno and Javi Manquillo both did very well in Spain, too. The Spanish full-backs both deserve to keep their place in the side, in my opinion. Moreno, especially, was amazing. Manquillo definitely did enough to keep Johnson out of the side, in my view. Brendan Rodgers’ view, though, will probably be different.
I think Liverpool will lose this game, unfortunately. Although, maybe they could scrape a draw. But this Chelsea side look the full package. There isn’t a weakness in their side. I hope I’m wrong, though. This is the side I hope we go with:
(FansCorners.com)
Bobby Vincent
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share ur sentiments bobby. i really hope borini starts and that we play a diamond like u suggest. i am also willing to give kolo a go but at the expense of lovren who was pissin’ poor against Newcastle.
i think bringing gerrard of the bench might not be a bad idea. we must ensure that we are in the game for the first 60 mins or so. i really hope sterling and coutinho are on their form. i expect a 1-1 draw or a liverpool win 2-1. somehow i think the team will be fired up for this one.