Picking a Combined Liverpool vs. Chelsea XI
This Saturday, Liverpool welcome the visit of Chelsea to Anfield as the Reds look to kickstart their Premier League season in the grandest of ways.
This, of course, was the fixture that brought Steven Gerrard’s crucial slip towards the tail end of last season—the result that derailed Liverpool’s promising and exhilarating title charge.
Jose Mourinho has since strengthened significantly and impressively in the summer, and Chelsea have been far and away the outstanding performers in the English top flight this season.
As we look forward to a mouthwatering clash on Saturday, let’s see what a combined Liverpool and Chelsea XI might look like, in a 4-1-3-2 formation designed to bring the best out of their respective personnel.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
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For most of the back five—and indeed most of the team as a whole—Chelsea are the far superior side, both on the pitch and on paper. Simon Mignolet won’t even come close to the Blues' No. 2, Petr Cech, and Thibaut Courtois wins this easily.
Right-Back: Branislav Ivanovic
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On the right side of defence, while Javi Manquillo is developing nicely and could become one of the Premier League’s most consistent right-backs in the years to come, he still has Cesar Azpilicueta to beat before he can even come into contention against Branislav Ivanovic.
It’s a sign of Chelsea’s strength that Ivanovic, who can also play in the centre, has taken up the right-sided role, with Azpilicueta their regular left-back.
Left-Back: Cesar Azpilicueta
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Azpilicueta is no ordinary left-back either: He’s only gone and kept his place on the left despite Mourinho bringing in one of the best in the business—Filipe Luis from La Liga winners Atletico Madrid.
Much like Manquillo, Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno might have something to say about this further down the line, but both of Chelsea’s left-back options are considerably stronger at the moment.
Centre-Back: Gary Cahill
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Those who doubted Gary Cahill’s ability when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge will be surprised at his enduring consistency and class, as he’s quietly established himself as first choice for both Chelsea and England.
Given the shambles that Liverpool currently find themselves in at the back, Cahill beats out any right-sided centre-back the Reds can offer.
Centre-Back: Mamadou Sakho
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Perhaps our first controversial inclusion in this team is a preference of Mamadou Sakho over Cahill’s regular partner, John Terry.
Terry’s experience and leadership make him one of the best defenders in the Premier League, even at 33 years of age, but we’ve opted for Sakho in terms of current ability and future potential. Cahill’s composure and defensive nous may see this partnership rival that of Raphael Varane and Sakho for France.
Holding Midfielder: Nemanja Matic
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We’ve gone for a 4-1-3-2 formation not just because there is a whole host of phenomenal attacking options between Liverpool and Chelsea but also because Nemanja Matic’s imperious form might just mean he can dominate the entire middle of the park in a defensive midfield position.
With an anchor like Matic, don’t expect this defence to concede much.
Right Midfielder: Raheem Sterling
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A more withdrawn front three sees Raheem Sterling take up a wide-right role. While he’s arguably a better fit on the left cutting in or through the middle as a No. 10, Sterling’s excellent work rate and defensive contributions will enable him to dovetail nicely with Ivanovic down the right.
His versatility, and that of his fellow forwards here, means that this will be an interchangeable attacking midfield line.
Left Midfielder: Eden Hazard
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Opposite Sterling is Eden Hazard, who will be able to switch flanks at will with the England teenager. Hazard’s penetrative and direct runs, as well as his goalscoring ability, make him equally as threatening, if not more so, than Sterling on the other side. He’ll also be the go-to penalty taker for this side.
Attacking Midfielder: Cesc Fabregas
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While he can play in a central midfield role as well, Cesc Fabregas leads the midfield from a central position here and is tasked with the chief creative responsibilities behind an all-conquering front two. He’ll chip in with a few himself as well.
Striker: Diego Costa
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We’ve seen Diego Costa’s devastating brand of attacking football this season in the Premier League, as he enjoys a stellar goalscoring record so far in his Chelsea career.
We’ve also seen in action a telepathic understanding between Costa and Fabregas, but we can only imagine how this can be multiplied with the addition of another league-leading striker in our fantasies.
Striker: Daniel Sturridge
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It’s a pity that the Premier League’s current finest strikers are all injury-prone, and together, Costa and Daniel Sturridge would make for perhaps the most inconsistent strike duo in the league in terms of fitness.
But when fit, Sturridge would be able to thrive off Costa’s movement and layoffs, as well as Fabregas’ sumptuous through balls and vision.
Which would leave both Liverpool and Chelsea fans ruing what could’ve been, given Costa’s links with the Reds last summer and Sturridge’s previous presence at Stamford Bridge.
Substitutes
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Petr Cech
Again, there is no real contest in the goalkeeping department.
John Terry
Does Terry beat Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren to a place on the bench for a central defender? You bet.
Filipe Luis
Likewise, Filipe Luis is comfortably the most seasoned and best full-back in reserve.
Emre Can
There isn’t an abundance of holding or central midfielders between the two squads, and we’ve gone for another mix of present ability and future potential in Emre Can’s selection. He might well become Liverpool’s very own Matic—and Reds fans wouldn’t mind too much if he goes down the Yaya Toure route either.
Philippe Coutinho
The likes of Oscar and Willian offer excellent movement and tactical intelligence in abundance, but in Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool possess a genuine game changer who, on his day, is one of Europe’s best attacking midfielders. His ability to play in the hole and to slot into a deeper midfield slot wins him this final midfield spot on the bench.
Andre Schurrle
Again prizing versatility and all-roundedness, Andre Schurrle makes the cut over a host of other options. It also helps that Schurrle has a handy knack for scoring goals off the bench.
Mario Balotelli
Our final and probably most controversial inclusion is Mario Balotelli at the expense of Loic Remy, but Balotelli offers the holdup play and outrageous game-changing ability that Remy cannot. In a two-striker system and ahead of such a strong midfield base, he would thrive.
