Liverpool vs Chelsea - Premier League (18/19 - Game 34)

[BigChief]

Going by Chelsea's line-up last night, I would expect to see this team feature on Sunday

Arrizabalaga
Azpilicueta
Luiz
Rudiger
Emerson
Jorginho
Kante
Loftus-Cheek
Hazard
Higuain
Hudson-Odoi

Yeah spot on. Willian and Kovacic playing full, tiring games ensures that team. Don't even think Pedro will be risked as a starter.

Hopefully Jorgino is knackered and Kante can't mark everybody. Loftus, Hazard, Hudson, Higuain are pretty weak pressers of the ball, and tracking back. So expect a bus park display with the hope of counters.

[Irishnev]

We haven’t beaten them at home in the league since 2012......this isn’t an easy fixture for us historically. We need to dominate them physically in midfield and prevent them getting the ball to Hazard.

[S-RED]

Klopp absolutely smashing it out of the park in the presser

He must never be allowed to leave the club; he can be our future King Kenny

[Norbs]

Let's ruin these cunts

[DeeTheDog]

I think Jorginho is the man to target not Hazard. Hazard thrives on close contact and can easily leave his marker for dead or win a foul. Constant free-kicks would break up play and suit Chelsea. He is consistently the most fouled player in the league.

Jorginho is a great playmaker if given space but what has been shown since the autumn, that if pressured, he can give up chances and is not good defensively. If we attempt to blitz Chelsea, similar to our style of last year we could get an early lead. Chelsea's attitude when trailing leaves a lot to be desired as shown by their capitulation away to the top teams, most notably their hammering at City. The longer the game goes on at 0-0, the more obdurate they will become and the higher the chance it could be settled by a moment of brilliance from Hazard.

[Fosterbloke]

**** Merson thinks Hazard could miss this game as they value the Europa more than the league. Would be nice but I doubt it's true.

[danperkins]

Yeah no chance of that unfortunately, that late goal last night settled the tie imo. Slavia are weak opposition anyways. At least they had to bring on Hazard and Kante to rescue the game. Jorginho is the weak link in their side, he cannot handle being pressed high and imo our lads are going to be all over him.

We are due a win against these horrors, I hate this fixture.

[frank the tank]

he's probably drunk again....

[Liverpool]

-----------Becker
-TAA----Matip--VVD--Robertson
-----------Fabinho
-----Henderson--Gini
---Salah---Bobby----Mane

Possible Milner/Lovren curveball in defence?

[baitman]

And shaq as a 94th minute sub

[rodo]

see sky are using the gerrard slip in the ad for the game

[red g]

2014 Liverpool side relied on one man, says Simon Mignolet

Simon Mignolet insists Liverpool’s multi-faceted threat this season mean comparisons with the 2014 title stumble at home to Chelsea are pointless.

Sunday’s visit of Chelsea, almost exactly five years since Jose Mourinho’s team derailed the Reds’ title bid with a 2-0 win at Anfield, has resulted in parallels being drawn with the last time the Merseysiders were in contention for the Premier League.

But Mignolet, in goal for that game and one of only three Reds’ survivors along with Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, stressed the circumstances are entirely different.

“The way we play now, after six years at the club, is completely different to what it was then,” said the Belgium international, who will watch this weekend’s game from the substitutes’ bench having been deposed by Alisson Becker this season,

“We had a big chance but we were relying on the quality of Luis Suarez’s goalscoring, whereas now we are more together.

“Since I have been out of the team, We don’t concede many goals, and the threat comes from different angles rather than just one player.

“In that sense we are more solid than when we were back then when we were relying on individual quality and individual players.

“We are confident of course, especially when we play at home as we have not lost here for a long time (37 matches: 27 wins and 10 draws) and haven’t conceded many goals.

“We are a lot more solid than we were back then so in that sense everyone is a lot more confident in getting the job done unlike back in the day against Chelsea.”

However, Liverpool’s record against Chelsea at Anfield is not the best, having not beaten them at home in the league since May 2012.

The Reds have not won any of the last eight encounters with the capital club in front of their own fans and the last three league meetings have all been 1-1 draws.

It is something Chelsea are acutely aware of as it was pointed out to Mignolet by his compatriot and Blues playmaker Eden Hazard recently.

“I spoke to Eden when we were with the national team and he spoke about that (2014) game, not so much about his form and the way he played, but he said Chelsea at Anfield have always done well,” added the goalkeeper.

“It is down to us to stop that.”

Despite Chelsea being off the pace in the Premier League as they battle just for a top-four place, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is well aware of the threat they – and Hazard – pose.

“Eden Hazard on his day he can be the world’s best immediately. He had a brilliant career, and it’s not over. He has a lot of things I like in football, his joy, his cheek, strong, quick, he’s a good player,” said the Reds boss.

“But like all good players, he has to play against us, and we try everything to deny at least a couple of his skills and that would help us. Maybe we will take 13 players and two will play only against Eden!

“The best way to try to make sure that he cannot shine is to avoid passes to him. React a little bit better than other teams did.

“It’s not easy, because when he has the ball it’s already too late. You try to read the game, read the passes, but in the end, in a one versus one situation you cannot defend him. You need help from somewhere else.

“I like footballers like this. If he plays his best game, we have to deal with that.

“But, come on, we are in good shape as well. It’s Anfield and I said it a few times, we have to create the power of Anfield and use it again.”

[BigChief]

Shame redg you forgot to un-capitalise the 'W'. But good try though.

[Irishnev]

2014 Liverpool side relied on one man, says Simon Mignolet

Simon Mignolet insists Liverpool’s multi-faceted threat this season mean comparisons with the 2014 title stumble at home to Chelsea are pointless.

Sunday’s visit of Chelsea, almost exactly five years since Jose Mourinho’s team derailed the Reds’ title bid with a 2-0 win at Anfield, has resulted in parallels being drawn with the last time the Merseysiders were in contention for the Premier League.

But Mignolet, in goal for that game and one of only three Reds’ survivors along with Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, stressed the circumstances are entirely different.

“The way we play now, after six years at the club, is completely different to what it was then,” said the Belgium international, who will watch this weekend’s game from the substitutes’ bench having been deposed by Alisson Becker this season,

“We had a big chance but we were relying on the quality of Luis Suarez’s goalscoring, whereas now we are more together.

“Since I have been out of the team, We don’t concede many goals, and the threat comes from different angles rather than just one player.

“In that sense we are more solid than when we were back then when we were relying on individual quality and individual players.

“We are confident of course, especially when we play at home as we have not lost here for a long time (37 matches: 27 wins and 10 draws) and haven’t conceded many goals.

“We are a lot more solid than we were back then so in that sense everyone is a lot more confident in getting the job done unlike back in the day against Chelsea.”

However, Liverpool’s record against Chelsea at Anfield is not the best, having not beaten them at home in the league since May 2012.

The Reds have not won any of the last eight encounters with the capital club in front of their own fans and the last three league meetings have all been 1-1 draws.

It is something Chelsea are acutely aware of as it was pointed out to Mignolet by his compatriot and Blues playmaker Eden Hazard recently.

“I spoke to Eden when we were with the national team and he spoke about that (2014) game, not so much about his form and the way he played, but he said Chelsea at Anfield have always done well,” added the goalkeeper.

“It is down to us to stop that.”

Despite Chelsea being off the pace in the Premier League as they battle just for a top-four place, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is well aware of the threat they – and Hazard – pose.

“Eden Hazard on his day he can be the world’s best immediately. He had a brilliant career, and it’s not over. He has a lot of things I like in football, his joy, his cheek, strong, quick, he’s a good player,” said the Reds boss.

“But like all good players, he has to play against us, and we try everything to deny at least a couple of his skills and that would help us. Maybe we will take 13 players and two will play only against Eden!

“The best way to try to make sure that he cannot shine is to avoid passes to him. React a little bit better than other teams did.

“It’s not easy, because when he has the ball it’s already too late. You try to read the game, read the passes, but in the end, in a one versus one situation you cannot defend him. You need help from somewhere else.

“I like footballers like this. If he plays his best game, we have to deal with that.

“But, come on, we are in good shape as well. It’s Anfield and I said it a few times, we have to create the power of Anfield and use it again.”

[baitman]

“Since I have been out of the team...