Pre-Match Build Up - Chelsea - 20 Jan 2007

[Morph]

Noticed we didn't have a thread for this match, so thought I would oblige.

I've noticed the build up for this match seems to have been unusually low key, which is quite odd seeing as the two teams are closer than in recent seasons.

So is Rafa just playing it cool, as Bascombe said in the echo - saying nothing so as not to give the chavs anything to respond to.

Is Moaninho worried by tomorrows trip to Anfield, him and his players have normally been shooting off at the mouth plenty by now?



Also is anyone actually expecting us to win?

It seems to me that any time we get to within any reachable distance of the top 2, we seem to cock it up, we've seen this scenario too many times over the years. Personally i'm not expecting us to win, and i'm not being negative about it, I just think a draw at best seems the most likely outcome, anything more and I'll be amazed. However if we are going to win, I think tomorrow presents the best opportuity to do it. No Joe Cole or John Terry who've rescued them in many of the games we've played, and with Cech only just returning, I think this is definately our best chance in the last 3 years to beat them in the league?

Thoughts?

[El Jefecito]

LFC4EVER will be pissed with you

[Jayesh87]

I hate Chelsea

[Morph]

I hate Chelsea

As do I, but i'm feeling less concerened about them recently for it to actually bother me

[Jayesh87]

As do I, but i'm feeling less concerened about them recently for it to actually bother me

Heres hoping we finish in the top 3! (just read ur siggy!)

[KingKenny]

Got a feeling we'll turn them over tomorrow. The squabbles in their camp must be affecting the players.
If the reds come out firing from the start and get an early goal we will batter them.

[El Jefecito]

1-0

[johnly]

No Makelele either tomorrow according to SSN tonight. I know we can do em over and if there's a time to do it this is it. Provide us with a platform to go on and catch the chavs up and maybe, just maybe stop the scum.

Hey what the hell I'm optomistic

1-0 will do me fine tomorrow

[Morph]

If we're gonna do them, I want to give them a good doing over, 3-0 would be a massive result, and might just give us that extra bit of credibility we seem to lack.

[El Jefecito]

If we're gonna do them, I want to give them a good doing over, 3-0 would be a massive result, and might just give us that extra bit of credibility we seem to lack.

Speak for yourself, a 1-0 would suit me right down to the ground.

[lfc4ever]

Liverpool v Chelsea

Anfield
Saturday, 20 January
Kick-off: 1245 GMT

Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD & live on SS1.

Liverpool are set for changes in attack and defence, where they used three centre-backs last time out at Watford.

Now boss Rafa Benitez must perm two from Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger, while in midfield Mark Gonzalez is back from a shin problem.

Mikel Jon Obi will start for Chelsea in place of the suspended Claude Makelele with Michael Essien still in defence and Wayne Bridge has a knee injury.

Keeper Petr Cech could make his first appearance since fracturing his skull.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Pennant, Gonzalez, Gerrard, Alonso, Bellamy, Crouch, Fowler, Kuyt, Dudek, Paletta, Zenden, Guthrie.

Chelsea (from): Hilario, Cech, Cudicini, Hedman, Geremi, Ferreira, Carvalho, Essien, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Robben, Drogba, Shevchenko, Mikel, Diarra, Kalou, Wright-Phillips.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

LIVERPOOL against Chelsea is the heavyweight Saturday lunchtime kick-off, giving the Reds the chance to consolidate their third placing in the table, and the Blues the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Manchester United to three points, as the table toppers don't play at Arsenal until Sunday. Chelsea are the bogey club for manager Rafael Benitez as far as the Premiership is concerned. He has lost all five previous meetings - the only English club to have a 100% League record against him.

The Merseysiders are one of three clubs still with an unbeaten home Premiership record. Chelsea and Arsenal are the others, but only Manchester United have more home points than Liverpool.

Away from the Premier League, Liverpool have won three and drawn three of the last six Champions League, FA Cup and Community Shield games against Chelsea. They've not beaten the Blues in the top flight since a 0-1 triumph at the Bridge on 7 January 2004. Their last home maximum was 1-0 on 6 October 2002, when Michael Owen scored a 90th minute winner.

CHELSEA and Liverpool are both playing their 100th Premiership matches under their respective managers. Jose Mourinho holds that 100% record in League contests with Liverpool, and has won 73, drawn 18 and lost eight of his 99 top flight games in the Stamford Bridge hot seat. Benitez' record as Anfield boss is less impressive - won 55, drawn 18 and lost 26.

These clubs have kept 25 clean sheets between them in this Premiership season (13 for Liverpool, 12 for Chelsea - no clubs have more shut-outs). Only Manchester United have gained more points away from home than Chelsea in the highest League.

The Blues have won the last five Premiership matches against Liverpool, and are therefore bidding for a third successive 'double' over them. A wonder-goal from Didier Drogba earned Chelsea all three points in the reverse fixture in September, despite the second-half dismissal of Michael Ballack.

REFEREE

Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
Premiership referees' table http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/4145246.stm
Rob Styles's 2006-07 Premiership card count http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/4145806.stm

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
3rd 43 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could realistically fall: 4th

1. Out of both domestic cups, but won eight of the last 10 Premiership matches, including the last three, and lost just one of 11.

2. Won all 12 League matches in which they've opened the scoring.

3. Have 14 fewer points and have scored 17 fewer goals than Manchester United, but conceded just 16 - the same as the leaders. Both clubs have therefore leaked one goal every 129 minutes (two hours nine minutes) of Premiership football played on average.

4. Top of the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with 15 points out of the 18. Arsenal, Manchester United and Bolton have 13 each.

5. Aiming to stretch their unbeaten home League run to 28 games, and home winning top tier sequence to four.

6. Won the last three home League games with an aggregate of 9-0, and not conceded a League goal at Anfield in six games, or 574 minutes (nine hours 34 minutes) since Gabriel Agbonlahor's goal for Aston Villa in the Reds' 3-1 win on 28 October.

6. Kept the most clean sheets on home soil in the top table (eight), and conceded the fewest goals in front of the home supporters (just three).

7. Go to West Ham next, before the Merseyside derby home to Everton. The Champions League trip to Barcelona is preceded by a visit to Newcastle.

CHELSEA
Club stats
Fixtures
2nd 51 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 2nd
Lowest could fall: 2nd

1. Undefeated in 14 in all competitions. Won eight and drawn six, since losing 0-1 away to Werder Bremen in the Champions League on 22 November. It's their only defeat in 18.

2. On the longest current unbeaten run in the Premiership of 12 matches. Won seven and drawn five since losing 2-1, away to Tottenham on 5 November.

3. Opened the scoring in an unparalleled 18 Premiership games this term.

4. Failed to score in only one League game (0-0, away to Aston Villa on 2 January).

5. Allowed the opposition to score first on the fewest occasions in the highest League (four).

6. Lost only two Premiership games - equal with leaders Manchester United.

7. Dropped 18 points out of 69 - the Red Devils have dropped only 12.

8. Unbeaten in five League games on the road, lost one of the last 10 and only two all season - against Middlesbrough (2-1 on 23 August), and Tottenham (2-1 on 5 November).

9. Resume the battle with Wycombe in the Carling Cup semi-final after this - they stand at 1-1 ahead of the Stamford Bridge leg. Then it's home to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, and Blackburn in the Premiership. A visit to Charlton and home fixture with Middlesbrough precede the Champions League match, away to Porto.

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles

Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with 10 goals.

Dirk KUYT is the club's leading marksman in the Premiership with seven.

Jose Manuel REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of the Reds' Premiership matches this season.

REINA and Steven GERRARD are the only players to have figured in at least a part of each of Liverpool's Premiership games this season.

If he participates Boudewijn ZENDEN will be facing a former club. The Holland international made 59 appearances and scored four goals for Chelsea between August 2001 and July 2004. Of those, all four goals and 43 appearances were in the Premiership.

If he plays, Jamie CARRAGHER will be making his 450th appearance for Liverpool.

If selected in the 11, CARRAGHER will be making his 300th Premiership start for the Reds.

CHELSEA
Squad profiles

Didier DROGBA is the highest scoring Premiership player this season with 21 goals, 14 of which are League goals putting him one clear of Manchester United's Cristiano RONALDO at the top of the table for the Barclays Golden Boot award.

Only Michael ESSIEN has figured in every minute of every one of Chelsea's Premiership matches this season.

If he plays, Frank LAMPARD will be making his 500th club career appearance (West Ham, Swansea, Chelsea).

Suspended: Claude MAKELELE

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Liverpool 1-4 Chelsea
2 October 2005 - Ref: Graham Poll
Liverpool scorer: Gerrard 36
Chelsea scorers: Lampard 27 pen, Duff 43, Cole 63, Geremi 82

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
17 September 2006 - Ref: Mike Riley
Chelsea scorer: Drogba 42
Sent Off: Ballack (Chelsea) 51

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

Home and away
League: Liverpool 57 wins, Chelsea 44, Draws 26
Prem: Liverpool 10 wins, Chelsea 14, Draws 5

at Liverpool only
League: Liverpool 42 wins, Chelsea 8, Draws 13
Prem: Liverpool 9 wins, Chelsea 3, Draws 2

[lfc4ever]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6280403.stm

Reds boss Benitez wary of Chelsea

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned his side against complacency when they play Chelsea on Saturday.

Chelsea have recently been engulfed in speculation over boss Jose Mourinho's future amid reports of a rift between him and owner Roman Abramovich.

But Benitez said: "Whatever has been said about Chelsea, it is always hard to play against them - now, a month ago or two months ago. It does not matter.

"They are a top side, not with just one important player but many."

Liverpool have not lost in the Premiership at home since October 2005, when it was Chelsea who beat them.


Against the top sides we have to improve, and we have the confidence that we can do that

But Benitez believes Liverpool can breathe new life into their Premiership campaign if they can beat the second-placed Blues and move to within five points of the reigning top-flight champions.

"If we can beat Chelsea, then we can also talk of the top, why not? But we have to win first," added the Spaniard, who will be taking charge of his 100th top-flight fixture for the Merseysiders.

"For us to win this game will be a boost for the rest of the season.

"We know we are really close and then people will start talking about the Premier League or second position. It will give us more focus."

Liverpool will also have an extra incentive for victory as their last two home games saw them knocked out of the FA Cup and Carling Cup by Arsenal.

They beat Watford away in their previous game but the Spaniard wants a win over Chelsea to help repay the fans after their 3-0 and 6-3 defeats at Anfield to the Gunners.

The Reds have a poor record against Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal but go into the game with 21 points from a possible 24 in their last eight games.

"Against the top sides we have to improve, and we have the confidence that we can do that," he said.


At this moment it is more important to talk on the pitch

Rafael Benitez

"We have been able to beat the top clubs in cups, it is in the league that there is the problem. But they are small details, small mistakes. And if you can score first it can change things.

"I am not interested in what has been going on at Chelsea, I am only concerned about what squad and players they will be using, nothing else. I prefer not to talk about our opponents.

"They have a very good team, a good manager and good players. They have a lot of strength and we know it will be difficult, but we also know that our form in the league has been very good.

"It is important for us. They are second in the league and we are a little bit behind that. They need to win to get close to Manchester United, and we need to win to cut the gap. The pressures are the same.

"We know we need to win every game and that means beating Chelsea.

"If we can do that, only then can we think about the second position as a possibility. At this moment it is more important to talk on the pitch."

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on this encounter

[RedProf]

I think we may struggle to open them up, just as we have done with the other top teams this year. I'd happily take 1-0 to us right now.

[Marky]

Not trying to be WUM here but we need a big game from Stevie G tomorrow, team effort of course
but i think it's about time he made a big impact in a big game.

[lfc4ever]

Not trying to be WUM here but we need a big game from Stevie G tomorrow, team effort of course
but i think it's about time he made a big impact in a big game.

He may never do it in what you call big games of course, as long as he does in cup finals and plenty of other matches, that will do the majority of us.

And please, no new threads tomorrow about it, find one of your exisiting ones if you intend to slag him off again, thanks.