Chelsea v Liverpool
Things don’t look to be going Chelsea’s way. After losing their lead at the top of their Champions League group, they have gone on to manage just one point from their last two Premier League games, conceding top spot to Manchester United.
After hosting Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday night, in a crucial match that could see them knocked out of the group stages if they lose, they will have to then play a Liverpool side who have pulled the double over them for the past two seasons.
Chelsea travelled to the Liberty Stadium to face Swansea last weekend desperate for three points after controversially losing 3-2 to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge the weekend before. The Blues did however bounce back from the defeat by exacting revenge in the League Cup. Even though it took more than half of the Chelsea first team (and £75 million worth of substitutes) to beat United’s second string team, Chelsea managed to emerge as victors in a thrilling contest that ended 5-4. Roberto Di Matteo’s men failed to impress as his side conceded the lead to draw 1-1 against The Swans in a game that failed to entertain. It took till the second half for the game’s first goal, Victor Moses claiming his first league goal for the Blues. With just two minutes of normal time to play, Swansea levelled matters to earn a deserved point. The Blues will be boosted by the presence of captain John Terry after ending his four-match domestic suspension for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. Terry will never be everybody’s cup of tea, but he remains, the best English central defender: a man who uses his know-how and footballing intelligence to make up for his shortcomings – and a far better player than any of his critics want to acknowledge. In the four games Terry missed, against Spurs, two with Manchester United and Swansea, Chelsea shipped 10 goals. This season, in the eight games Terry has started, Chelsea have conceded eight goals. In the eight he has not started, they have conceded 14. More importantly, where Chelsea were hoping to extend their lead over United to seven points barely two weeks ago, they now find themselves toppled from top spot and trailing the Old Trafford outfit. Chelsea’s summer signings Eden Hazard and Oscar have quietened down after superb starts to the season and Di Matteo will be hoping they can produce the much needed magic they are capable of. Meanwhile, Juan Mata, who has risen to the occasion more often than not, will be looking to spur his side to a victory after missing last weekend’s match against Swansea with injury.
Brendan Rodgers is under increasing pressure after the club’s second worst start to a season in more than a century. Liverpool sit in 11th place with less than half of Chelsea’s 23 points accumulated so far. They were the better side in their 1-1 draw with Newcastle last Sunday, but, in keeping with the general theme we have been accustomed to, they couldn’t make the most of the opportunity. The statistics were all too familiar. There was possession (64%), plenty of efforts on goal (19) and bags of corners (14). But statistics can tell you anything. They can tell you that Liverpool have taken just 11 points from 10 Premier League matches this season, drawing half of their fixtures. They can tell you that nobody other than Luis Suarez has managed more than one league goal for the Reds all season long and has scored seven of their 13 league goals. Or that it is now 14 months since back to back league wins were recorded on home soil.
Liverpool have beaten Chelsea in the last four league encounters, an impressive stat for a side who have struggled to keep up with Chelsea in recent seasons. The last meeting was a 4-1 thrashing at Anfield back in May. The Reds raise their game against the bigger sides but their lack of fire power going forward is a major issue relying on only Luis Suarez. Chelsea’s midfield has looked exposed when playing against teams who run at them. The draw is tipped.
