Chelsea Build Up

[Boogs]

That's so funny Chelsea make out like there is some big rivalry between the clubs, probably because they are desperate for a relevant derby/grudge match. Unfortunately for them a game against Chelsea is never going to be as big as when we play the blue****e, mancs or even Arsenal which probably winds them up even more

bang on the money there foggy

[Philip FC Kopenhagen]

Good for Ramires that he only elbowed Larsson in the face and didn't bite him in the arm. Four dahs isn't enough imo when you compare with how lomg Suárez's ban was.

[Norbs]

Suarez's ban was definitely too lomg

[Sarb]

That's a fans view. There is an article from a Liverpool fan too. Just ignore that crap

[G]

I thought that, but I think it's the fact that playing Sunday doesn't give them enough recovery time to play Wednesday to keep up with those Nippy little Atletico players

Which they still shouldn't cry about because Atletico are playing on Sunday too,later than Chelsea are.

[RedReet]

The tension is clearly getting to the squad ffs

Sterling.

[kingfunk]

I girlfriend pisses herself every time she sees him running, reckons he runs like a girl!

[magicalbarnes]

I girlfriend pisses herself every time she sees him running, reckons he runs like a girl!

Is that Apples latest product?

[Sarb]

Mourinho going for half-strength team according to Lipton in Mirror

[kingfunk]

Is that Apples latest product?

[Yozza]

Luis García: I doubted Liverpool 'ghost goal', then I started screaming

Former Anfield star says he is still asked about the controversial Champions League goal he scored against Chelsea in 2005

The Guardian, Thursday 24 April 2014 22.30 BST

Liverpool's Luis García watches his shot head for goal as Chelsea's William Gallas tries to clear the ball off the line back in 2005. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty
Luis García is still asked about the "ghost goal" and José Mourinho is still moaning about it. The Spaniard's fourth-minute finish for Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea was the strike that took Rafael Benítez's team to Istanbul, where they came back from a 3-0 half-time deficit against Milan to be crowned European champions.

From a few yards out García poked the ball towards the net and, despite Chelsea's William Gallas hooking it away, Lubos Michel, the referee, decided that a goal had been scored.

With Liverpool preparing to host Chelsea on Sunday – and if Mourinho's side are beaten that could all but crown the home side as champions for the first time since 1990 – García says he can go anywhere and the goal is mentioned.

"I was in Oman in March playing with the former players of Barcelona against Real Madrid. But people know me from Liverpool and always ask about the goal. Always around the world this happens. When we were in Muscat, the capital city, we went to a shopping complex and I saw a man with a red shirt on. He said: 'Can I have a photo?' I said: 'Sure'. Then he said: 'And was it a goal or not?'"

So, was it? "That's the question, isn't it? I should ask for a penny every time someone asks me that," laughs García, now 35 and who retired last year after a fine career that, as well as Liverpool, also included spells at Atlético Madrid (twice), Barcelona, Racing Santander, Panathinaikos and the Mexican teams Puebla and Pumas UNAM. "For me it was and the referee gave it so. If I am being honest, I remember the feeling of hitting the ball and when I saw the bounce going up I turned away and celebrated. I started doubting for a moment because for two seconds none of my team-mates were close and I started thinking: 'Oh my goodness, maybe it wasn't.' But I turned round and saw the referee and the linesman running back into position and just started screaming.

"We can say: 'If this', 'if that'. But the goal was given. If not it would have been a penalty and a red card, so we don't know if it was better what happened or not."

García cites how Petr Cech flattened Milan Baros before the goal. On Tuesday Mourinho, who was then in his first season of his first spell as Chelsea's manager, indicated that nine years of bitterness remains. "In the other semi-final we lost with a goal that was not a goal but that's part of football," he said to bewail the club's luck in the Champions League.

Yet García enjoys cordial relations with the tempestuous one. "Mourinho congratulated me at the end of the game, but I actually had a very good relationship with him," he says. "I met him [when both were] at Barcelona, and after I spoke a few times when he was a manager in Portugal, before he went to Porto, about signing for him."

As will be true on Sunday, the atmosphere on 3 May 2005 was particularly memorable. "It was incredible. They had a machine to measure how loud the Kop was that night and I think when the goal went in it was one of the highest decibel readings ever in sport," García says. "I played for 70 minutes and I remember feeling very nervous for the final 20. Apart from the goal and a couple of other moves, I don't remember much about the game. But those last 20 minutes I watched from the bench and was suffering."

García offers an insight into how Steven Gerrard and co may feel against Chelsea – who are five points behind Liverpool and need a win to keep their title hopes alive – at Anfield. "If I have to be honest, when you go into a game like that you are so concentrated, your mind is so focused that you block out a lot of things," García says. "You are concentrating on what you have to do, where you have to play. Sometimes it can feel like there is no one around you. When you stop, you can hear the atmosphere. You clap your hands and say: 'We are at home.' Then after it is like one click and you cannot hear anything."

Can Liverpool beat Chelsea? "They can do it. Right now is the time," he says. "All the players are focused and know what they have to do. Like Steve [after Liverpool beat Manchester City] said: 'Let's go again.' They did that against Norwich and it seems to be in their head now. When we won the Champions League it felt like there was something pushing us, I don't know what, because people say we shouldn't have won it.

"It is the same now. We don't know what is going to happen in the future. There are many good sides in the Premier League, many good players, so this is the right moment to put Liverpool back where it has to be. This is where we have to be around the world. To win a title the way they are playing would be perfect. Everyone is enjoying watching Liverpool play. The defenders are playing good, the midfielders are good, the strikers are on fire. If one guy goes out and another one comes in then they still do the job. It is very good."

Just as García was in his three years at the club.

[Fredo]

I love Luis.

[Yozza]

Robbie Savage: Raheem Sterling can hurt weakened Chelsea

In his regular BBC Sport tactics column, Robbie Savage looks at Sunday's top-of-the-table clash between leaders Liverpool and second-placed Chelsea.

Liverpool are still scoring lots of goals, have won 11 games in a row and are seven points away from their first title in 24 years.

With the finish line in sight, Blues boss Jose Mourinho would usually be the last manager you would want to come up against.

Mourinho did a job on Manchester City in February when they were the team in form, but there are a few reasons why that is a lot less likely to happen again at Anfield.

This does not feel like the title showdown it was shaping up to be because even a Chelsea win will not put things back in their own hands, and Mourinho has already said that next week's Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid is his priority. I can understand why.

Another reason this game could not have come at a better time for Liverpool is that Chelsea have injuries and suspensions in key areas. As we have found out over the last few weeks, the Reds have the attacking players to punish any kind of defensive weakness.

Sterling takes central role in Reds title bid

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers called Raheem Sterling the best young player in Europe after his performance in their win over Norwich last week and, the way he is playing right now, you have to believe him.

It is clear Sterling has been improving all season but, against the Canaries, he showed us all the different sides he now has to his game.

First there was his finishing with a 25-yard strike for Liverpool's first goal, then his sensational pass to set up Luis Suarez for their second and, finally, his running with the ball that saw him get the third.

I have already talked about how Rodgers' flexible formations have put them on top of the table this season and Sterling's own versatility plays a huge part in making them as effective as they are. Teams do not know where he is playing, or how to stop him.

In the last few weeks, Sterling has been used out wide when needed - notably against Tottenham where he played mainly on the right but sometimes switched wings with Suarez - in a 4-3-3 formation.

But his best performances have come when he has played through the middle, using the space between the opposition midfield and defence, and looking to run in behind their back-line.

Against Manchester United and Manchester City he played at the tip of a midfield diamond behind Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge while, against Norwich, he was alongside Philippe Coutinho and playing off Suarez in what started out as 4-3-2-1. He has been brilliant in all of those matches.

At the start of the season I just thought of Sterling as a winger and did not see him playing in that 'number 10' position at all.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and Reds forward Raheem Sterling
Sterling made only one start in Liverpool's first 12 league games but has started 20 of their last 23

The player he has become shows what hard work on the training ground can do.

You have to give Rodgers massive credit for developing his game in the way that he has, and also to Sterling for his dedication to improve himself.

From a shaky start under Rodgers, who gave him a dressing down in front of the TV cameras in a documentary that was being made about the club in the summer of 2012, Sterling has worked hard, shown great character and come back to prove himself.

He was not a regular at the start of the season but he has kicked on so much since coming back into the team at the start of December that he has to be one of the first names on the teamsheet now.

Sterling is only 19 but has emerged as a key player, as important to Liverpool's title bid as Suarez, Sturridge or Steven Gerrard.

Like those three players, he has different dimensions to his game. He offers a different threat to Suarez and Sturridge and he has hit form at exactly the right time to freshen up the Liverpool attack for the run-in to the end of the season.

Sterling's pace is phenomenal but the reason he is such a dangerous player when he plays through the middle is not just because he is fast.

It comes down to the timing of his runs from deeper positions - like the one he made when he scored against City - and the different angles he comes in at.

There is an end product now too. The way he manipulates the ball is fantastic and his finishing just seems to get better and better.

I remember him missing a great chance when Liverpool lost at Etihad Stadium in December, when he skied the ball with only Joe Hart to beat, but he has looked cool in front of goal recently.

Sterling has found the net six times in Liverpool's current 11-game winning run, and at some crucial times in those matches - the opening goals against City and Norwich for example.

In fact, his performances in the big games for Liverpool have been so good that it is not enough for him to just be part of Roy Hodgson's squad for this summer's World Cup - he has to be a starter for England in Brazil.

Rodgers to stick with winning plan

Sterling played on the right wing in a 4-3-3 formation when Chelsea beat Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on 29 December, but the Reds had Gerrard and Sturridge out injured that day and they look a different team now.

If Sturridge is fit, I would expect Rodgers to go with the same system and shape that saw his team beat City at Anfield, only using Joe Allen or Lucas Leiva instead of the suspended Jordan Henderson.

That would keep Sterling at the tip of their midfield diamond, in the position where he has been so wonderful recently, and his movement will create lots of problems for Chelsea.
The Blues back four has been brilliant all season with John Terry and Tim Cahill, but they will be without Terry for their biggest test of the campaign. As usual, Liverpool will go for them right from the start.

David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic have both played at centre-back before, but having an unfamiliar face alongside Cahill will not help them as a unit, and neither will Petr Cech's injury or Ramires's suspension.

On top of those absences, it is the timing of this game that will help Liverpool the most, because it could not have fallen better for them than between the two legs of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final.

Mourinho knows he has a much better chance of reaching the Champions League final than he does of winning the Premier League title. Europe is his priority, and that will surely influence his selection at the weekend in positions where he still has a choice.

No Mourinho team is ever easy to break down, but where Chelsea are more likely to be weaker is when they go forward.

Like Sterling, Eden Hazard has had a brilliant season, and has made a dramatic improvement most of his attacking statistics compared to the 2012-13 campaign. Just as Rodgers deserves credit for Sterling's progress, Mourinho is clearly able to get the best out of the Belgian.

Hazard was superb against the Reds in December and, if he plays, he could easily be the difference between the two teams again on Sunday.

But Hazard is on his way back from a calf injury and, if he is going to be fit soon, surely Mourinho will want him be fit for Wednesday instead of this weekend.

Why would Mourinho risk his key attacking player three days before facing Atletico Madrid in a game where he only needs to win at home to reach the final? I cannot see it happening.

Liverpool close to historic triumph

In an ideal world, I am sure Mourinho would go to Anfield planning a repeat of the masterclass in counter-attacking that saw Chelsea beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

But, without Hazard, Chelsea will be far less of a threat on the break. He is not just their top scorer, he has made more assists and has created more chances than any other Blues player.

This time, instead of thinking about winning, Mourinho might have to try to kill the game in the same way he did when picking up a point at Manchester United and Arsenal this season.

But my feeling is that Mourinho's tactics will be less relevant this time because his line-up will not be strong enough to carry out his game-plan. Besides, a draw would not help Chelsea much.

I see Liverpool winning again, to move one step closer to the title. And, if Mourinho cannot stop them, it is hard to see anybody else doing it now.

Everything has fallen nicely for Liverpool this weekend with Chelsea's circumstances, but the season is over 38 games, not just this one match.

Liverpool have been the best attacking team in the Premier League, have scored the most goals and have been a joy to watch. If the Reds do go on to become champions, then they will fully deserve their success.

[Roboklopp]

I love Luis.

Me too. Big time.

He looked very handsome on his interview with LFC tellies the other day.

[Molby]

I'm off on holiday today..what a bad mistake..I took it off because I can't concentrate at work at all..the only thing that is filling my mind is this title race and Sunday..but it's much worse at home !!

I took myself off and drove the short 15 miles to Carnlough ( where our boss is from)..it's just a small sleepy fishing village, but the atmosphere around it is so overpowering at the minute...

They are so so proud of Brendan up there..if anything it was soothing, just to talk to people who just see him as a local lad..

I was talking to a few oul lads, who know the family well..The feeling up there is "if young Rodgers is in charge, liverpool will win the league" not in a confident arrogant way, but more in a "we believe in him" way..

Hard to explain, but I'm glad I made that trip this morning..

bring on Sunday....led by Young Rodgers..