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Matchday Preview: Chelsea v LIVERPOOL

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Image for Matchday Preview: Chelsea v LIVERPOOL

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: 11/11/12

Kick-Off: 16:00

An almost unrecognisable Liverpool side lost to Anzhi Makhachkala in midweek, so Brendan Rodgers will hope that a rested full-strength side can get a result away to Chelsea on Sunday. Glen Johnson is fit and available for the game at Stamford Bridge, while Pepe Reina could also be available. Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez will expect to be recalled to the starting XI, along with the other first-team players who did not travel to Russia.

Suarez’s spectacular goal against Newcastle was his seventh of the season, leaving him just behind Robin van Persie in the scoring charts. However his conversion rate is not as ruthless as it should be; Suarez has required 56 shots to get his seven goals, with less than half of his efforts on target. Suarez has still scored more league goals than his Liverpool teammates combined, who have only scored four goals between them – Steven Gerrard, Nuri Sahin, Martin Skrtel and Raheem Sterling have scored one goal each.

After making his 600th appearance for the Reds last weekend, Gerrard is tenth in Liverpool’s all-time appearances ranking. He is also one of the Premier League’s top ten passers, along with Joe Allen – Gerrard has provided 662 passes while Allen has managed 722 passes. Only Santi Cazorla, Michael Carrick, Yaya Toure and Mikel Arteta have completed more passes, with Chelsea’s top passer, John Obi Mikel, managing 619 passes in total. Gerrard has also won 85% of the tackles he has attempted this season and completed 309 passes in his opponent’s half, the fifth-highest among Premier League players this season.

Chelsea’s top scorer is ex-Red Fernando Torres and Liverpool’s defence will be determined to prevent Torres from scoring his fifth league goal of the season on Sunday. Martin Skrtel and company will also need to be wary of Chelsea’s creative trio – Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar. Blues captain John Terry may be recalled to the side after serving his four-match ban, but Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard are still out. Liverpool won both of their league meetings with Chelsea last season – the third time they have managed to secure all six points against the Blues in the last four seasons. Though the odds will be against him on Sunday, Brendan Rodgers will hope his side can pick up three points at the Bridge as Liverpool strive to improve on an underwhelming start to the season.

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23 comments

  • Elias says:

    Sahin should pull up his gear to the next level..we need to support the deffence .cause chelsea is playing attacking football .lets freeze mata,hazard and ashley cole in the wings .support of suarez will be needed cause thy are up against him us our main forward..

  • credos says:

    I thought Skrtel had a bug & wont be able to play?
    I really hope we get a point in this one,tough game

  • martina says:

    i wish joe allen is dropped . he gives no cover to the defense and is too weak

  • Orbunde says:

    Who do u pick wen u drop Allen? Or are u anti-reds? I wish Skrtel is back such dat will may drop enrique

  • fred says:

    30 min gone . how bad is Joe Allen ? he is rubbish, anyone is better than that short arsed donkey

    sahin poor too . new midfield needed

  • US LP Fan says:

    Rodgers is loyal to a fault.
    Joe Allen out of his league. Too huge blunders which almost resulted in goals.

  • tony t says:

    half time . no chances , no opportunities created
    allen and sahin totally useless again , we have no midfield , put henderson on for allen , at least henderson is more physical .

  • clive halsall says:

    depressing again . how much longer til we sack duck dodgers ?

  • LFC Dean says:

    awful . go rodgers please and take allen wit u

  • The Spurs says:

    Ha! Ha! Liverfool supporters calling for JORDAN HENDERSON to save them!!! At this rate you guys are going to be relegated in two years. And that is being serious.

    • LFC Dean says:

      ha ha . get a life loser . liverpool fans have their faults but at least we arent soooo sad as to go on a different teams site to slag them

      now that is sad !

      • The Spurs says:

        I’m not slagging anyone. I’m telling you the truth!! Your supporters are calling for Jordan Henderson to save you in games and slagging the manager that has been in charge 4 months. LOL!!

        • LFC Dean says:

          i dont see anyone calling for henderson to ‘save’ liverpool . i see two people asking for allen to be replaced by someone tougher . the only option on the bench was henderson . in a defensive role he is ok

    • niall torpey says:

      why u trolling another teams website ? lol . does following spurs leave a hole in ur life that needs to be filled ? lol lol lol

  • LFC Dean says:

    good fightback ,but it shouldn’t cover up the fact it was another poor performance , another tactical disaster from rodgers , another inept performance from allen and sahin .

    well dones to carra suarez stevieG , and especially enrique

  • sandra F says:

    We needed a man in cental midfield to be tough and strong , all we had was what looked like a 13 year old boy in Joe Allen

    Not good enough again for LFC -but at least we got a point + fake blondie didnt score

    We need a new man in charge , I like BR but he doesnt know how to win games

  • Ben Oxlade says:

    I think Allen is useless too . Hurry back Lucas

  • niall torpey says:

    we still have some great players but can only manage 2 shots on goal . rodgers must take responsibility for another bad game . wrong formation , wrong style , wrong team selection . negative sideways football again . must drop allen and play 2 up front

  • JamesMac says:

    Bring Rafa home . this is not good enough

  • YNWAred says:

    i agree with comments . rodgers not good enough , allen useless . great game by enrique though

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