Chelsea vs. Liverpool: Tactical Preview of Premier League Game
The 2014-15 Premier League champions Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday and will be treated to the traditional guard of honour. Here we take a look at how this game could play out tactically as the Reds continue to vie for Champions League football.
Chelsea News
The big news ahead of this fixture relates to the potential availability of Diego Costa. The injury-plagued forward hasn't featured in blue for over a month but could be in contention to play some part here.
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"He wants to play," Jose Mourinho said at his pre-match press conference, relayed by London24. "I will protect him all the way but he wants to play, so lets try to fine a balance between the risk and the desire that he has to try to play and score a couple of goals."
Ramires is a doubt and Oscar has been shut down for the season, with Mourinho managing to ward off Brazil's Copa America selectors and earn the playmaker a long overdue summer off.
It will be 4-2-3-1, and we could see a number of rotation options because Chelsea have already won the league.
Liverpool News
Daniel Sturridge has had hip surgery and could miss up to five months, per the Independent. That leaves Brendan Rodgers with the choice of playing Raheem Sterling up front, Philippe Coutinho up front or resorting to an out-of-favour striker. Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have all underperformed when given the chance this season.
It's been a 4-3-3 for Liverpool in the last four games, so that should continue. Adam Lallana is in line to start off the flank and Steven Gerrard could play as the deepest member of the midfield three.
Mamadou Sakho remains out injured, so Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren should continue in defence, while Emre Can could play at right-back and Alberto Moreno could play on the left.
Key Point 1: Central Clogging
With Ramires a doubt and Cesc Fabregas likely forced into the No. 10 position due to Oscar's absence, we could see Mourinho wheel out Kurt Zouma in the holding-midfield role.
The last time we saw him start a game at holding midfield was in April's home win over Manchester United, in which he nullified Marouane Fellaini. The time before that was the Capital One Cup final, in which he removed the space for Harry Kane to drop into.
He's good at playing spoiler. Long term, he's a centre-back, but for now, he can come in as a situational spoiler. There's a chance he comes in to clog the midfield zone here, and that spells trouble for Liverpool's pretty playmakers.
Sterling, Coutinho, Lallana and deeper runners from midfield all thrive in the central areas, and that's where Zouma, in cahoots with Nemanja Matic, will operate. There's a chance the Reds won't find the space for their best players to play and that they'll be outmuscled in the process.
Key Point 2: Home Counters
Chelsea will play with a reasonable degree of freedom, having already sealed the title, but don't expect a change of style or a drop in defensive performance levels as a result. Mourinho will have his side motivated to play and ready to take advantage of any space that opens up.
As Liverpool press for goals—they need them, after all, to catch Manchester United in the race for the top four—the full-backs will inevitably get forward to stretch play. If Chelsea clog with middle with Zouma they'll have to spread play and use the flanks, utilising overlaps and overloads in order to create chances.
This is perfect for Chelsea; it's the game they love to play. Whoever starts on the wings out of Eden Hazard, Willian, Juan Cuadrado et al. will be able to receive early balls out of defence, turn and run the Reds' defensive line.
With Gerrard playing in the anchor role, it means the Blues have both space to run into and older legs to take advantage of. It wouldn't be a surprise if this game takes a similar pattern to Chelsea's 1-0 victory over Manchester United on April 18.
