Chelsea (H) 28.08.21

[Doc_Piptorious]

So, Kante to foul Keita at least 6 times without picking up a card. Keita will tackle Kante the once and be booked.

[Big-Red-Ed]

We need the legs of Keita rather than the passing of Thaigo/

I'm not sure Keita has the legs either. That's been one of the ways he has disappointed me. He always looks too slow.
I'd play Thiago any day over Keita.

YNWA

[Slinky Skills]

I'd keep Keita in, he needs game time and it won't help his confidence dropping him now. I want to see a good run of games from him now and Saturday is a real test for him which I think he'll come through if he plays.

[labourRed]

Keita vs Kante will be fascinating to watch imo. Assuming both start. Kante is a beast, and Keita excels at breaking a press.

Barely a contest to be fair. If he runs the roost over Kante my gast will be truly flabbered.

Thankfully our midfield don't really line up man-for-man, so its not really a square go.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Barely a contest to be fair. If he runs the roost over Kante my gast will be truly flabbered.

Thankfully our midfield don't really line up man-for-man, so its not really a square go.

Oh I think Kante is a world class player and the better of the two without a doubt. However I just feel that some of the less eye catching stuff that Keita is capable of doing well is potentially a very good counter to Kante's pressing.

And whilst our midfield rarely tries to line up man for man, Tuchel has tried exactly that a number of times in the past with his Dortmund team and this Chelsea team, especially when chasing the ball.

Not expecting Keita to rule the roost over Kante, more a case that if he plays well that he and Kante may cancel the other out and as such their best midfielder would be countered by a player not on his level when it comes to most things.

Thiago is another in our squad that is excellent against a press, but I feel that he would be lacking a little in match fitness at present and possibly easier to draw into a physcial battle with Kante as a result. A fully fit and match sharp Thiago vs Kante would be a fascinating watch though and who knows maybe I am underrating where Thiago is physically/mentally right now and we will get to see it.

[Rich]

I'm not sure Keita has the legs either. That's been one of the ways he has disappointed me. He always looks too slow.
I'd play Thiago any day over Keita.

YNWA

Moves a lot faster than the Spanish Huddlestone, that's for sure.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Moves a lot faster than the Spanish Huddlestone, that's for sure.

Go wash you mouth out, you heathen.

[Rich]

Go wash you mouth out, you heathen.

[Fosterbloke]

At first I thought a draw would be good but I want all three points and to show the league we're back.

Is Pulisic still out with the Corona?

[RedReet]

At first I thought a draw would be good but I want all three points and to show the league we're back.

Is Pulisic still out with the Corona?

A late KO at Anfield with more or less a fully fit squad, a draw would be a terrible result imo.

To win the league we need to be practically flawless again, so winning every game at Anfield must be a priority.

[Doc_Piptorious]

A draw at Stamford Bridge would be ok, but at Anfield we have to be looking to beat them.

[frank the tank]

will be a good game.

I expect Robbo to come back for Tsimikas

Henderson, Fabinho and either Keita / Thiago in midfield

I think Jota might keep his place too. Would be tough to score in both games - the opening goal in both games too no less - and miss out then.

Would be incredible if Jurgen sprung a surprise and started Elliot.

[RedReet]

A draw at Stamford Bridge would be ok, but at Anfield we have to be looking to beat them.

100%.

Depending on how the match goes, a draw might not be the end of the world, but we definitely have to be going into it expecting to win.

Chelsea haven't finished above us since they last won the league 5 years ago and as much as they have improved recently, they still have a lot to prove before they can be considered better than us.

[Rich]

will be a good game.

I expect Robbo to come back for Tsimikas

Henderson, Fabinho and either Keita / Thiago in midfield

I think Jota might keep his place too. Would be tough to score in both games - the opening goal in both games too no less - and miss out then.

Would be incredible if Jurgen sprung a surprise and started Elliot.

That would be a massive gamble. I hope he doesn't.

[frank the tank]

yip would be alright...... to be honest I was surprised when Elliot got off the bench v Norwich (over say, Minamino) and was shocked to see him in starting line up v Burnley (but I didn't know that Milner and Ox were unavailable at the time).

Will probably be Keita.