Chelsea Preview
On Sunday we face our biggest test of the season so far when we make the journey to South West London to face a side that have gone 4 seasons unbeaten at home in the Premier League. Stamford Bridge has become a fortress for Chelsea and Liverpool have failed to even register a goal there during that time, a statistic that must change on Sunday afternoon.
We go into the game with niggles to key players in the form of Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres, of the 4 only Torres looks likely to miss the trip to the Bridge, although Keane is also touch and go for the game, Chelsea though have they're own problems with injuries to key players such as Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Ashley Cole. Ashley Cole may possibly return but this could be a good time to face Chelsea with such quality personnel missing. Ok they do have a huge squad full of stars but the proposition of facing Anelka instead of Drogba, Kalou instead of Joe Cole, Mikel instead of Essien and Malouda instead of Ballack has to be a bonus for Liverpool.
They do however have a very strong defence available, Portuguese star Carvalho is back to partner John Terry and Wayne Bridge is an able deputy should Ashley Cole fail to make the game. In recent times the main problem Liverpool have had against Chelsea has been breaking them down and scoring goals against them, so regardless of they're injuries, they still have that fearsome defensive unit to call upon.
Rafa will probably select the same defence that appeared in the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night, the midfield should see Kuyt return on the right in place of Benayoun, with Gerrard playing just off Keane in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the other players keeping their places in the starting line up Alonso, Mascherano and Riera.
Trips to Stamford Bridge are never easy occasions and this should be no different, but due to the fact that Chelsea have some key players missing in attacking areas, i feel our defence should be able to cope well enough with them under the expert marshalling of Jamie Carragher.
It's the other end of the field where we need some improvement, the loss of Torres is an obvious blow to our hopes but i think the clever movement of Keane can cause them problems, its a big game for Gerrard too as he will be employed to try and link up with the Irishman again as he did do so well Wednesday night when he produced a superb through ball for Keane to break the deadlock in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid.
I'm going to predict Liverpool to grind out a hard fought 1-0 victory on Sunday and ruin Chelsea's unbeaten home record, i'm going to say Steven Gerrard will score the winning goal, maybe from the penalty spot or via a free kick, i think Sunday could be our day and it would be an excellent way to make a bold statement about our title credentials being real by picking up the 3 points at Stamford Bridge, here's hoping.
Prediction: Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (Gerrard)
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