Chelsea build-up

[JohnDoe]

Aurelio concerns me defensively a lot more than Dossena.

[Rich]

Our fullbacks in all likelihood are going to be in for a busy game - I haven't see Dossena look the part defensively yet and with this game arguably being the toughest domestic game for our fullbacks I wouldn't play him.

I've seen enough to suggest he'll be an asset in the long run, I would simply put Carragher in there and out Hyypia in the centre.

[JohnDoe]

Hyypia is a really bad idea for this game in my opinion. He never has a good game against them and his aerial ability will be wasted against a Chelsea team whose football is very different from Mourinho's football.

[-V-]

Xabi Alonso believes three points at Chelsea on Sunday would inject added confidence into Liverpool's Premier League title challenge.

The Reds travel to Stamford Bridge at the weekend, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1, level on points with their hosts at the top of the table after eight games.

Both sides are also unbeaten in all competitions this season, while Chelsea have not lost at home in 86 league games.

But Spanish midfielder Alonso is optimistic that he and his team-mates can bring the Blues' intimidating set of records to an end as Liverpool attempt to end an 18-year title drought.

"We know Chelsea have a great record at home in the Premier League," he said.
Tough

"They haven't been beaten for four years at home and it is going to be really tough, but we honestly feel we are ready to get a good result there."

Liverpool came from behind to defeat Manchester United at Anfield in September - a first league victory over their North West rivals since 2004 - and Alonso believes that win stands Rafa Benitez's squad in good stead.

"Beating United in our first big test of the season was very important for our confidence and this (Chelsea) is another big test for us," added Alonso.

"Being the first team to beat Chelsea at home in the league after all this time would put us in a great position and it would send out an important statement, but we have to beat them first before we can think about things like this.

"Winning at Stamford Bridge could spur us on for the rest of the season but, even if we win, it would still be too early in the season to say too much about winning the title. There is still a long way to go."

[SB]

Xabi Alonso should be fit for Liverpool's trip to Chelsea as the Spanish midfielder wants to end the Blues' long unbeaten home record.

Alonso took a knock to his knee during Liverpool's 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, but is now expected to be ready to line up at Stamford Bridge, while skipper Steven Gerrard and striker Robbie Keane should also be fit to feature on Sunday.

Influential striker Fernando Torres is again set to miss out due to his hamstring problem, but Alonso is confident that Rafa Benitez's side can go to London and end Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home league record which stretches back to February 2004, having already defeated Manchester United this term.

He told the Daily Post: "Beating United in our first big test of the season was very important for our confidence and this is another big test for us.

"We know Chelsea have a great record at home in the Premier League, they haven't been beaten for four seasons at home, and it is going to be really tough but we honestly feel we are ready to get a good result there.

"Hopefully we can be the team to end their unbeaten home record."

He added: "Being the first team to beat Chelsea at home in the league after all this time would put us in a great position and it would send out an important statement, but we have to beat them first before we can think about things like this.

"Winning at Stamford Bridge could spur us on for the rest of the season but even if we win it would still be too early in the season to say too much about winning the title. There is still a long way to go."

[Skunk]

Hes a Liverpool Left Back so obviously he is ... I think he is the best provider of the ball in the box we have at the club .. love him .. for all the attack he offers you pay a little defensively .. stands to reason

Well exactly. You can't crave attacking full backs and a more expansive game, and then criticise for losing a bit of defensive solidity.

[rage]

bound to be 4231 playing chelsea away

reina
arbeloa carra agger aurelio (dosenna)
alonso masch
kuyt gerrard riera
torres if fit

if torres is still injured then i can see either keane or babel there depending on who's fit. i'd prefer babel as a second half sub.

i think we're finally at a point where the team pretty much picks itself. imo that's no bad thing.

[dww]

Which is why you DON'T play him as a central striker. You put those types of players on the wing where they tie up the defenders that actually get forward, i.e. the full backs.

I think the fullbacks of Chelsea hold the key to the game. We need to tie them back. I'm unsure of whether I would want Babel to be one of the players doing it though. I fully see your logic and if he has a good game then it should work perfectly. However the teams that have been most effective against Chelsea (such as United) have used workers rather than pace in order to push them back and make it hard for Chelsea to build attacks from the back. For this reason Kuyt is key whether he plays centrally or on the wing.

The more I think about it the more I think we may have to put babel up front (if Keane is injured) as Benayoun is not the player we need on the right. I think the best we can do is Kuyt and Reira on the flanks.

I think it is one of the hardest tactical setups to get right as we have a limited set of wide options and without Torres no clinical striker (Torres also has great work rate so he would have been ideal in style for the game even if he wasn't as good as he is).

Aggers last two performances worry me aswell.

I think we are going to have to be as bold as we can as we have confidence and the key is to be on the front foot but to keep discipline at the back. Agger will have to remain deeper and look to deliver the ball into midfield rather than joining in IMO so that we can release the fullbacks as often as possible.

Given this seasons form so far I would be looking to have Gerrard off a forward and Alonso and Mascher central. The defense fitness of Aurelio permitting pretty much picks itself.

[pondus]

I think the fullbacks of Chelsea hold the key to the game. We need to tie them back. I'm unsure of whether I would want Babel to be one of the players doing it though. I fully see your logic and if he has a good game then it should work perfectly. However the teams that have been most effective against Chelsea (such as United) have used workers rather than pace in order to push them back and make it hard for Chelsea to build attacks from the back. For this reason Kuyt is key whether he plays centrally or on the wing.

The more I think about it the more I think we may have to put babel up front (if Keane is injured) as Benayoun is not the player we need on the right. I think the best we can do is Kuyt and Reira on the flanks.

I think it is one of the hardest tactical setups to get right as we have a limited set of wide options and without Torres no clinical striker (Torres also has great work rate so he would have been ideal in style for the game even if he wasn't as good as he is).

Aggers last two performances worry me aswell.

I think we are going to have to be as bold as we can as we have confidence and the key is to be on the front foot but to keep discipline at the back. Agger will have to remain deeper and look to deliver the ball into midfield rather than joining in IMO so that we can release the fullbacks as often as possible.

Given this seasons form so far I would be looking to have Gerrard off a forward and Alonso and Mascher central. The defense fitness of Aurelio permitting pretty much picks itself.

Chelsea at home means full-backs in attacking areas even if we try to tie them back, and I think Rafa will look into how we can use this to our advantage when we counter. When we are balanced in attack it is very hard to score against us, offensive full-backs or not, so we need to use the open areas they leave behind, while at the same time keep our defense composed. How to do it? Ok, listen up:













I don't have a ****ing clue and won't spend hours and hours trying to find out













This is why I'm sitting at home and Rafa is on the bench

[PTP]

well torres out, keane doubtful i suspect something like this

-----reina----

arbeloa--jc---agger----dossena

------masher----alonso

kuyt-----Gerrard----riera

--------babel------


that is prob as good as we can get given the injuries. Only other difference may be juyt up front on his tod and benayoun right mid and using babel if needed in the 2nd half

[Reece]

Chelsea at home means full-backs in attacking areas even if we try to tie them back, and I think Rafa will look into how we can use this to our advantage when we counter. When we are balanced in attack it is very hard to score against us, offensive full-backs or not, so we need to use the open areas they leave behind, while at the same time keep our defense composed. How to do it? Ok, listen up:













I don't have a ****ing clue and won't spend hours and hours trying to find out













This is why I'm sitting at home and Rafa is on the bench

[dww]

Chelsea at home means full-backs in attacking areas even if we try to tie them back, and I think Rafa will look into how we can use this to our advantage when we counter. When we are balanced in attack it is very hard to score against us, offensive full-backs or not, so we need to use the open areas they leave behind, while at the same time keep our defense composed. How to do it? Ok, listen up:
I don't have a ****ing clue and won't spend hours and hours trying to find out
This is why I'm sitting at home and Rafa is on the bench

In the Chelsea vs United game the fullbacks had much less influence as they used Rooney, Park and Hargreaves to close down the defense behind Berbatov. I think trying to get the same effect has to be our aim. United tired and Chelsea came more and more into that game which is another worry given our midweek performance - IIRC Chelsea haven't conceded in the second half this year whilst we have been poor at scoring in the first half.

[zimbo]

well torres out, keane doubtful i suspect something like this

-----reina----

arbeloa--jc---agger----dossena

------masher----alonso

kuyt-----Gerrard----riera

--------babel------


that is prob as good as we can get given the injuries. Only other difference may be juyt up front on his tod and benayoun right mid and using babel if needed in the 2nd half

I'd say that was probably more likely, given the importance of the game and the failure of Babel to prove that he is particularly suited to the role, in the albeit limited opportunities he's had up to now. I'd be surprised if Rafa decided to gamble on him from the start, although as always he could play an important part from the bench.

[Craig_H]

Babel is no striker. Too inexperienced, weak and lazy.

Babel's been a striker all his career, it was only when we signed him that he 'bacame' a winger.

[The_weatherman]

well torres out, keane doubtful i suspect something like this

-----reina----

arbeloa--jc---agger----dossena

------masher----alonso

kuyt-----Gerrard----riera

--------babel------


that is prob as good as we can get given the injuries. Only other difference may be juyt up front on his tod and benayoun right mid and using babel if needed in the 2nd half

How about Babel on the right though? Some pace and Kuyt up top to make space for Gerrard to run into.