Chelsea Build Up

[Yozza]

Rodgers' update on Sturridge fitness

25th Apr 2014 - Latest News

Brendan Rodgers explained on Friday how Liverpool will continue to assess the fitness of striker Daniel Sturridge ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash against Chelsea this weekend.

The 24-year-old suffered a small hamstring strain and had to be substituted midway through the second half when the Reds hosted and defeated Manchester City earlier this month.

He was then not involved as Rodgers' team travelled to Norwich City and won 3-2 last Sunday, thereby recording an 11th consecutive victory and qualification for the Champions League.

At his pre-match press conference today, the Northern Irishman was asked for an update on Sturridge's condition - which he revealed will be monitored during the next 24 hours.

"We will see," the boss told reporters gathered at Melwood. "We'll give it another 24 hours. He's working hard with the medical team. So we shall see.

"But if he's not fit, we've coped before; we've managed before without a number of players. We'll go into the game with confidence. We'll assess that over the next 24 hours."

[G]

He said calling those players "weaker" is an insult to them

[Yozza]

Paul Merson's prediction



This is a hard game to predict until you see the team sheets. I think Jose Mourinho will go through with his pledge to play a weakened team because the league is not in his hands.

Even if they win at Anfield they will still need favours from elsewhere to win the title - but if they beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday then they are in the Champions League Final and so that's his priority. I still don't think it's right because the wages are paid for by all the Premier League TV money, not the Champions League and I think it's disrespectful to put out a weakened team. You have to say everything is going right for Liverpool, though. They are taking advantage of that fortune, which is what you've got to do and it wouldn't surprise me if they won this easily. Chelsea can easily go there and get a result and will always be in the game if they put a proper team out, so until I see the team selection I will go for a draw.

I'm not convinced Chelsea's team will be that weak and a draw would be ample good enough for Liverpool - but if Mourinho does rest his whole team then it could be 4-0.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2

[JohnDoe]

Brendan

[Tee]

Yep, Brendan. So proud of him.

[Vermilion]

Paul Merson's prediction



This is a hard game to predict until you see the team sheets. I think Jose Mourinho will go through with his pledge to play a weakened team because the league is not in his hands.

Even if they win at Anfield they will still need favours from elsewhere to win the title - but if they beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday then they are in the Champions League Final and so that's his priority. I still don't think it's right because the wages are paid for by all the Premier League TV money, not the Champions League and I think it's disrespectful to put out a weakened team. You have to say everything is going right for Liverpool, though. They are taking advantage of that fortune, which is what you've got to do and it wouldn't surprise me if they won this easily. Chelsea can easily go there and get a result and will always be in the game if they put a proper team out, so until I see the team selection I will go for a draw.

I'm not convinced Chelsea's team will be that weak and a draw would be ample good enough for Liverpool - but if Mourinho does rest his whole team then it could be 4-0.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2

Good image for his media career, Yozza.

[Yozza]

Go on Big Jan - you tell 'em

Jan Molby: Reds will teach Mourinho a lesson

OPINION BY JAN MOLBY

I've got no sympathy for Jose Mourinho with his complaints about the timing of Sunday’s title showdown at Anfield.

If he decides to prioritise the Champions League over the Premier League that’s his choice. If he didn’t have so many players out on loan he would be able to put a stronger team out.

We don’t know whether it’s just mind games when Mourinho says he will field a weakened side and hold players back for the second leg of their semi-final with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

But I do think this Champions League thing is burning a hole in his head. Not getting his hands on that trophy was the reason he got the sack from Chelsea last time.

He can picture himself in that final against Real Madrid and getting his own back for what according to him was the three years of hell they gave him.

The Liverpool fan in me hopes Chelsea do field a shadow side at Anfield as the easier they make it for us the better. But I don’t think it should be allowed. If they don’t play their strongest line up it makes a mockery of the title race.

Mourinho won’t want to come to Anfield and get turned over like the other top sides have this season. He will have a plan and I want to see what he’s got up his sleeve to stop Liverpool.

I was in Madrid for their first leg on Tuesday. Some people described it as a tactical masterclass but I wouldn’t go along with that. He didn’t do anything clever. He picked big, strong, physical players and waited for the opposition to come at Chelsea.

Atletico are very one dimensional, they kept sticking crosses into the box and it was easy for Gary Cahill and John Terry to head and kick everything away.

Chelsea played for a 0-0 and I wouldn’t describe it as a great performance. Mourinho was very critical of West Ham for doing something similar at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

If Chelsea manage to contain this Liverpool side that really would be an achievement. I’m not convinced they have the players who can cope with the way Liverpool play.

The pace and tempo will be very different. Whatever Mourinho says and whatever team he picks, I expect our array of attacking talent to be too much for them to handle.

[Mostar]

Jan Molby: Reds will teach Mourinho a lesson

OPINION BY JAN MOLBY


I was in Madrid for their first leg on Tuesday. Some people described it as a tactical masterclass but I wouldn’t go along with that. He didn’t do anything clever. He picked big, strong, physical players and waited for the opposition to come at Chelsea.

Atletico are very one dimensional, they kept sticking crosses into the box and it was easy for Gary Cahill and John Terry to head and kick everything away.

Chelsea played for a 0-0 and I wouldn’t describe it as a great performance. Mourinho was very critical of West Ham for doing something similar at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

[Gingawaria]

Paul Merson's prediction



This is a hard game to predict until you see the team sheets. I think Jose Mourinho will go through with his pledge to play a weakened team because the league is not in his hands.

Even if they win at Anfield they will still need favours from elsewhere to win the title - but if they beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday then they are in the Champions League Final and so that's his priority. I still don't think it's right because the wages are paid for by all the Premier League TV money, not the Champions League and I think it's disrespectful to put out a weakened team. You have to say everything is going right for Liverpool, though. They are taking advantage of that fortune, which is what you've got to do and it wouldn't surprise me if they won this easily. Chelsea can easily go there and get a result and will always be in the game if they put a proper team out, so until I see the team selection I will go for a draw.

I'm not convinced Chelsea's team will be that weak and a draw would be ample good enough for Liverpool - but if Mourinho does rest his whole team then it could be 4-0.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2

He's been predicting mostly draws for us for the last few matches.

Wishful thinking!

[Gaz]

The Ramblings of a mad man

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/chelsea/9282575/mourinho-rules-out-united-role

[Leyton388]

So basically Brendan's said he's not in anyway affected by mind games, that whatever eleven Chelsea field will be more experienced and more expensive than ours. That it's disrespectful to players in your squad to refer to them as a 'weakened team', that Mourinho should rotate his team midweek because our pressing and intensity could cause them to lose against Athletico. Also that we can't fail, even if we lose because we've exceeded everyones expectations.

Brendan throwing a few subtle mind games in of his own, i like it.

[G]

Hazard will be on the bench at the very least.He's training.

[Leyton388]

The Ramblings of a mad man

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/vide...ut-united-role

[meffin]

Just watched the pre city YNWA. And I'm ****ing pumped for this now!!!!

[mick the click]

My two cents:

Chelsea have zero reason to park the bus. They will come at us and they have great players all over the pitch regardless. But we also have the ability, with our attack, to go at them and break down their weakened back five (Schwarzer). My main concern is Matic/ Mikel/ Lampard vs Allen/ Gerrard- I can't see us playing Lucas? Likely, it's Coutinho/ Sterling/ Sturridge/ Suarez- if they play deep, we will get countered and often because Coutinho generally goes missing in defense and while Sterling tracks back well, he's wider than the narrow Lamps/Matic/Mikel formation. If they play it through the middle, especially if Schürrle plays (he is great on the counter), we could be in trouble. I worry about our set up against whoever they play, but we have to go for it. They just don't concede easily and we need to stay tight at the back... we've been shipping too many goals and they do not. Going to be tight regardless.

Yes.




























However, we will own them.