Chelsea build-up

[danperkins]

Results and performances from so many teams are all over the place, no doubts there will be many shock results this season more so than any other. Don't know if its teams getting more competitive and laying down suppressing tactics but thus far the seasons results have been more than unpredictable and seems this trend will carry on.

Its just weird

P.S. I'd be more than happy to take a draw tomorrow.

[Reece]

Last I heard, Malouda and Lampard were both out. I also think I read the Essien was a doubt that would be nice.

With that in mind, I'm actually feeling fairly optimistic and think we'll only lose 0-2.

[kemm1]

1-1

[Mostar]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6489913,00.html

Roy pledges 'hell' for Blues

Roy Hodgson has warned Chelsea they expect 'a hell of a game' when they visit Liverpool on Sunday.

The Premier League champions have been supreme this season winning 12 of 14 games in both the league and the UEFA Champions League, leaving them top of the domestic pile and their European group.

But Reds boss Hodgson insists the Blues are beatable, citing the defeat to Manchester City at the end of September as reason for optimism ahead of the weekend encounter.

And the Anfield chief believes his side have a point to prove as they go in search of their third top-flight victory in succession.

"I don't think any team is unstoppable, quite frankly," Hodgson said.

"All teams, however good they are, are stoppable. All teams will have bad days and will lose matches.

"They might not lose many in a season but they will lose some.

"There is no doubt we have to hit the ground running against Chelsea and we will.

"I think I can guarantee our fans Chelsea won't leave here without having had a hell of a game on their hands."

Momentum
After back-to-back league wins over Blackburn and Bolton, Liverpool's revival looked to be coming to an end against Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday after a poor first half.

But from being a goal down at the interval they were pulled up from the depths by an inspirational display from captain Steven Gerrard, who came off the bench at the break and scored a hat-trick to turn the match around in spectacular fashion.

Hodgson is experienced enough to know Chelsea are unlikely to allow the England midfielder to dominate proceedings as much as he did against the Italians.

But the former Fulham chief hopes coming up against the league leaders will be the incentive for his players to raise their games.

In previous matches this season against top-four teams - Arsenal and Manchester United - the displays have been promising without actually reaching the required level.

"I have to hope that unlike Arsenal and Manchester United, where I think we gave credible performances, this time luck is on our side and we come away with three points," said the Liverpool manager.

"We could easily have done it against Arsenal and we could have done it against United.

"But I'm sure that has been forgotten. We got one point having played with 10 men (against Arsenal) and then lose in the 85th minute having got it back to 2-2 (against United).

"We go into the game with momentum but I want performances not momentum.

"I want performances like I've seen in the last three games and I want it from the first minute to the last."

[BigChief]

Go Roy, that's what we want to hear!! You're learning fast, now lets hope the results follow. Tomorrow's going to be epic.

[Craig_H]

"I want performances like I've seen in the last three games"

Not too sure that Napoli was a particularly good performance, the 2nd half was decent, but certainly not any 'benchmark' that we need to highlight as something we're striving for. Likewise Bolton away.

Blackburn at home for the first 60 minutes, then yeah, that is more like it.

[Reece]

I've got a strange feeling we're going to beat them.

Dribbles down self

[Craig_H]

It really is strange, isnt it?

[Reece]

Hell yeah

[Qantaga]

You heard it here first. 3-1. Gerrard x1, Torres x2

[Rudo]

A rocking Anfield atmosphere always gives me a bit of hope.

[Icon]

We gonna **** them sideways.

(I write this with a mixture of post drunkenness and pre-hangover mind...)

[DannyMan2006]

If we beat the chavs anything is possible. And i know the players will feel the same. Game on and no mistake. Sit back too much like we were earlier on in the season and we'll get torn to pieces. Need to get the balance right and Meireles needs to get some bottle.

I think Raul is close to scoring for us and I wouldn't be suprised if he breaks his duck against Chelsea.

[Fernandinho]

Chelsea to score early then we can press and hopefully get 1 or 2 goals... If we win it will be 2-1 but I think its more likely that Chelsea will win 2-0...

[JohnDoe]

4-1 Chelsea (anti-mockers).