Chelsea build up

[DannyMan2006]

That should be shown to every LFC fan who is attending on Wednesday. It may seem pathetic (and is) but it shows how desperate they are to win this.

To suggest we will beat them by simply turning up is a joke and LFC will need to be at their absoloute best. The crowd is what normally gives us the edge in these games and we're in danger of being a hum drum crowd if you go by what you read on the message boards!

In 2005 and 2007 Chelsea were a far better team than us but we beat them, so forget about form. This is cup football.

[Craig_H]

The crowd in the stadium will be up for it, i'm 100% sure.

[DannyMan2006]

The crowd in the stadium will be up for it, i'm 100% sure.

I think they will too, I just hope we're right.

[Darkon]

I am sorta ambivalent about this game...

On one hand it is the biggest stage in Europe and a massive game coming up against chelsea. On the other hand, it sort of bores me a bit because it is the same damn game again. I am feeling somewhat disappointed that we have to go through this match up again, and would be much more excited if we met a non-english team this time.

But not much I can do about that, so I am going to enjoy the game anyways.

It will be a difficult one, chelseas last chance of a major trophy this season, and we will have to see how we manage to prioritize between the league and this.

[Joe King]

I am sorta ambivalent about this game...

On one hand it is the biggest stage in Europe and a massive game coming up against chelsea. On the other hand, it sort of bores me a bit because it is the same damn game again. I am feeling somewhat disappointed that we have to go through this match up again, and would be much more excited if we met a non-english team this time.

But not much I can do about that, so I am going to enjoy the game anyways.

It will be a difficult one, chelseas last chance of a major trophy this season, and we will have to see how we manage to prioritize between the league and this.

The Champions League is possibly our best chance of winning any silverware this season where destiny is in our hands unlike the league but we have to keep going. I would love for us to win the title but for United, with all their players back, it does seem unlikely that they will drop points in two games.

[DannyMan2006]

I am sorta ambivalent about this game...

On one hand it is the biggest stage in Europe and a massive game coming up against chelsea. On the other hand, it sort of bores me a bit because it is the same damn game again. I am feeling somewhat disappointed that we have to go through this match up again, and would be much more excited if we met a non-english team this time.

But not much I can do about that, so I am going to enjoy the game anyways.

It will be a difficult one, chelseas last chance of a major trophy this season, and we will have to see how we manage to prioritize between the league and this.

Amazingly Chelsea could yet win the league (highly unlikely), are still in the Champions League of course and also the FA cup. Could yet be a good season for them.

I tell you what, any one of the top 4 could yet have a fantastic season to remember.

[DannyMan2006]

The Champions League is possibly our best chance of winning any silverware this season where destiny is in our hands unlike the league but we have to keep going. I would love for us to win the title but for United, with all their players back, it does seem unlikely that they will drop points in two games.

I can't see what is so unlikely about that. The biggest concern for me is our ability to win every one of our games.

[wiw]

The crowd in the stadium will be up for it, i'm 100% sure.

Definitely We owe them one after last year

[DannyMan2006]

Should all watch this prior to kick off.............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrNFXpVq8eE

[Joe King]

Malouda backs Lampard to win the midfield battle
• Florent Malouda chooses Lampard over Gerrard
• He claims Chelsea can win Champions, Premier and FA trophies

Louise Taylor
[Guardian], Monday 6 April 2009 22.00 BST

Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard? Although the two England midfielders operate in different positions for their clubs these days, the debate about whether the Chelsea or the Liverpool man is the better player rages on.

Florent Malouda has no doubts. As his side prepare to renew Champions League rivalries with Liverpool, the Chelsea creator does not hesitate before replying. "For me, it is my mate, Frank Lampard," Malouda insists.

"I would never say anything different. Frank is so special because he is always focused on the opposition goal. He is always running and full of energy. When we beat Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final last season he was really important for us. Frank is full of confidence and his freedom to play can make the difference.

"Frank runs midfield but he seems to have mentality of a striker. He is never happy if he doesn't score. He comes from deep positions and that is why teams find it very difficult to keep him quiet. He is always moving and always seems to score. But Frank's game is not just about scoring."

Indeed, while Lampard, like Gerrard, registers his fair share of goals and makes plenty of late, ghosted, sprints into the box, he can also put his foot in and serve as an enforcer when necessary.

In contrast Gerrard, for Liverpool at least, has evolved into much more of a withdrawn striker operating behind Fernando Torres but, like the deeper-deployed Lampard, he benefits from considerable licence to roam when the moment is right.

"The fight with Gerrard is going to be one of the keys to our Champions League quarter-final," said Malouda. "But it won't be the only battle out there. Against Liverpool every one of our players has to make the difference. We have to put every challenge in and show a lot of discipline. It will be really tight because both sides have world-class players in every position. We have to keep our discipline in both legs. If we do that our discipline will get us through. It's never easy to play against Liverpool but it's a great competition and it's very exciting."

Not to mention an opportunity to avenge recent domestic disappointments. "It is rare that you play a team twice and lose both times but still get an opportunity to correct those results," Malouda said.

"We haven't found the solution to beating Liverpool this season but something in our team has changed since we played them twice earlier this season. Now we have to show that. This is a great opportunity. What has changed with us is the confidence and the discipline we are showing. Our top, key players are now more confident than before."

So much so that it seems Guus Hiddink's management has reignited Chelsea's hopes of pulling off an admittedly unlikely Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble.

"We want to win all three trophies this season," Malouda said. "In the League it is going to be difficult. But we have got it in our minds that we can win the Champions League and the FA Cup. That is our ambition. The squad is nearly all fully fit, there is great competition for places and while I wouldn't say we have a good chance of winning the Premier League this season, we definitely have a chance. We are playing with a lot of confidence right now and there is a lot of quality in the squad."

Moreover Chelsea appear to be also benefiting from Hiddink's managerial modus operandi. "The manager gives us a lot of confidence even when we have had bad results," explained Malouda. "The manager tells us to play to our qualities."

Malouda's talents have often seemed more than a little latent since his much trumpeted, high-priced, arrival at Stamford Bridge from Lyon in 2007 but the French left winger has flourished just lately and seems to be thriving under the new regime.

"I'm happy, fit and healthy," he said. "And I have been working really hard. John Terry told me recently he wants me to be in the starting line-up more often and that has given me a lot of confidence."

[DannyMan2006]

DannyMan2006 Predicts Gerrard to win midfield battle

As the two teams come out to battle on Wednesday, most fans will be thinking once more to their goal scoring heroes in fit again superstars Drogba and Torres. But it will be in the trenches of midfield that this battle will be won predicts Est1892 own DannyMan2006.

Think back not so long a go to when the Manchester steamroller was in full throttle and new superlatives and words were thought up on an almost daily basis to keep up with the praise being lavished on Fergies boys. But that was then. And this is now.

Fast forward from those halcyon Manchester days and now we are starting once again to see the other three power houses come to the fore. Arsenal of course are seeing players return at just the right time and this could yet see them collect a unique cup double. A testing tie with a hungry and fully rested Villareal will tell us much about Wengers boys.

But it is to Anfield where we shall concentrate, where a Liverpool team flying full of confidence come head on with Gus Hiddinks Chelsea for the first time this season. Liverpool themselves have much to crow about lately, fantastic wins against two of the biggest clubs in the world had the Kop salivating, but their brutal destruction of Villa and a constant battering of a well managed Fulham has finally led to usual downcast pundits such as Joe King and AnfieldAnfield finally sit up and take notice of Rafas boys. The never say die attitude shown on many occasions this year may yet serve them well this season.

If Liverpools brief return to the top of the table was a suprise, then the man behind that surge is not. If Steven Gerrard was Brazilian he'd have probably already won world ffootballer of the year five years running. As it stands he's not even won Premiership player of the year. A series of commanding displays in his new role could finally change that should he manage to drag Liverpool over the line. Gerrard himself shows the usual modesty expected of the man by laying the praise squarely at Reeces dream date, one Fernando Torres. And whilst Steven is right in spreading the praise, it is he alone that is standing tall and shining the brightest in a squad who at present is rivalling an electricians conference in the number of bright sparks visible.

So if Steven Gerrard is in the form of his life and according to Zizou and Kaka, the greatest player in the world, who can stop him? Step forward Michael Essien. It would be too esay this year to say that Chelseas current from is solely down to Gus Hiddink. Sure, the dutchman is a bright articulate coach, and his experience is surely helping Chelseas current cause. But he has had a couple of jokers in his pack. The excellent Didier Drogba suddenly feels like playing football again. And the machine that is Michael Essien, already partly reponsible for Chelsea being at the quarter final stage after a fantastic return (and goal) against Juventus.

Long gone are the days when Jose Mourinho could just sit down and tell Claude Makalele to sit On Gerrard. But in Essien Chelsea have a player capable of lifting the players around him and giving his team that added bit of energy in the park. Under Scolari Chelsea were a sinking ship. A returning Essien has helped steady them, and aside from a poor display against Tottenham, they have been bang in form. Not the ruthless team under Mourinho, but one very capable of getting the job done.

It will as usual likely be a tight game on Wednesday, but the key to victory could well come down to how Essien and Gerrard fair on the day. Should Gerrard get the freedom of the pitch like in recent games Chelsea could wel be out of it by full time. But I wouldn't expect Essien to let him of the leash as easily as the likes of Anderson,Petrov and Murphy in recent games. Would you?

[TheElephantMan]

Malouda backs Lampard to win the midfield battle
• Florent Malouda chooses Lampard over Gerrard

Well, he would wouldn't he?! Frank Lampard shoots so often that it's inevitable he'll score occasionally - I would and I'm ****e too. Gerrard is infinitely superior to Lampard, and I really hope we prove that our passion and leadership outweighs their massive spending in a week's time.

[Joe King]

DannyMan2006 Predicts Gerrard to win midfield battle

As the two teams come out to battle on Wednesday, most fans will be thinking once more to their goal scoring heroes in fit again superstars Drogba and Torres. But it will be in the trenches of midfield that this battle will be won predicts Est1892 own DannyMan2006.

Think back not so long a go to when the Manchester steamroller was in full throttle and new superlatives and words were thought up on an almost daily basis to keep up with the praise being lavished on Fergies boys. But that was then. And this is now.

Fast forward from those halcyon Manchester days and now we are starting once again to see the other three power houses come to the fore. Arsenal of course are seeing players return at just the right time and this could yet see them collect a unique cup double. A testing tie with a hungry and fully rested Villareal will tell us much about Wengers boys.

But it is to Anfield where we shall concentrate, where a Liverpool team flying full of confidence come head on with Gus Hiddinks Chelsea for the first time this season. Liverpool themselves have much to crow about lately, fantastic wins against two of the biggest clubs in the world had the Kop salivating, but their brutal destruction of Villa and a constant battering of a well managed Fulham has finally led to usual downcast pundits such as Joe King and AnfieldAnfield finally sit up and take notice of Rafas boys. The never say die attitude shown on many occasions this year may yet serve them well this season.

If Liverpools brief return to the top of the table was a suprise, then the man behind that surge is not. If Steven Gerrard was Brazilian he'd have probably already won world ffootballer of the year five years running. As it stands he's not even won Premiership player of the year. A series of commanding displays in his new role could finally change that should he manage to drag Liverpool over the line. Gerrard himself shows the usual modesty expected of the man by laying the praise squarely at Reeces dream date, one Fernando Torres. And whilst Steven is right in spreading the praise, it is he alone that is standing tall and shining the brightest in a squad who at present is rivalling an electricians conference in the number of bright sparks visible.

So if Steven Gerrard is in the form of his life and according to Zizou and Kaka, the greatest player in the world, who can stop him? Step forward Michael Essien. It would be too esay this year to say that Chelseas current from is solely down to Gus Hiddink. Sure, the dutchman is a bright articulate coach, and his experience is surely helping Chelseas current cause. But he has had a couple of jokers in his pack. The excellent Didier Drogba suddenly feels like playing football again. And the machine that is Michael Essien, already partly reponsible for Chelsea being at the quarter final stage after a fantastic return (and goal) against Juventus.

Long gone are the days when Jose Mourinho could just sit down and tell Claude Makalele to sit On Gerrard. But in Essien Chelsea have a player capable of lifting the players around him and giving his team that added bit of energy in the park. Under Scolari Chelsea were a sinking ship. A returning Essien has helped steady them, and aside from a poor display against Tottenham, they have been bang in form. Not the ruthless team under Mourinho, but one very capable of getting the job done.

It will as usual likely be a tight game on Wednesday, but the key to victory could well come down to how Essien and Gerrard fair on the day. Should Gerrard get the freedom of the pitch like in recent games Chelsea could wel be out of it by full time. But I wouldn't expect Essien to let him of the leash as easily as the likes of Anderson,Petrov and Murphy in recent games. Would you?

Poor reporting. Don't quit your day job......mainly because its tough out there but if you want a job as a journo, try the Metro.

And like V, you are secretly in love with me.

[DannyMan2006]

Poor reporting. Don't quit your day job......mainly because its tough out there but if you want a job as a journo, try the Metro.

And like V, you are secretly in love with me.

Not bad for a spur of the moment write up, surely?

As for being in love with you, no, I'm afraid not. But you do give me some joy with your over the top negative posting. Many a time you've given me a good laugh with one of your daft predictions.

As it happens, I'm still waiting to delete my signature, but you have yet to admit you were wrong and were at the time overly negative............ Come on, I need space as I'm sure there will be someone else on here ready to fall on their sword and proclaim the end is nigh sometime soon in the coming weeks.............

[Joe King]

Not bad for a spur of the moment write up, surely?

As for being in love with you, no, I'm afraid not. But you do give me some joy with your over the top negative posting. Many a time you've given me a good laugh with one of your daft predictions.

As it happens, I'm still waiting to delete my signature, but you have yet to admit you were wrong and were at the time overly negative............ Come on, I need space as I'm sure there will be someone else on here ready to fall on their sword and proclaim the end is nigh sometime soon in the coming weeks.............

Hindsight is 20:20. Quite silly you keeping a quote depending on a prediction.....