Chelsea v. Liverpool Preview: Early Pace Setters Collide in Mouth-Watering Clash

Alan McGuinness previews one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the season so far: Chelsea v. Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Initial Thoughts and Points of Interest

Sunday sees the Premier League’s two pace setters come head-to-head in a clash that is likely to have significant bearing on the destination of the title this season.

Liverpool may not be playing particularly well, but they are winning and displaying the strength and belief required to win their first league championship in over 18 years.

Chelsea, on the other hand, appear to be playing a more expansive brand of football under the tutelage of Luiz Felipe Scolari, but you would have struggled to find any evidence of it on Wednesday.

The last few years have been littered with memorable clashes between the two sides, and no one will forget the acrimonious rivalry between the now departed Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool’s 1-0 win in the Champions League Semi-Final via Luiz Garcia "Ghost Goal", Chelsea’s 4-1 win at Anfield, the Merseysider’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the 2006 FA Cup semifinal, and Chelsea’s pulsating 4-3 aggregate victory in the Champions League semifinal in April are just some of the thrilling matches that these two giants of the English game have taken part in.

If Sunday’s game comes close to matching the high drama of recent years then we will be in for an absolute treat.

Team News

Chelsea: Ashley Cole trained on Friday and could feature on Sunday. However, Didier Drogba will definitely miss out along with the two Michaels, Essien and Ballack. Brazilian midfielder Mineiro is a week away from action.

Liverpool: Robbie Keane is doubtful for Sunday’s game after going off injured during Liverpool’s 1-1 away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, who also came off in the same game, have however been declared fit to play. Fernando Torres definitely misses out with a hamstring strain.


Recent Form

Chelsea: So far so good for the Blues. They remain undefeated this season and took a step closer to qualification for the Champions League knockout stage after beating Roma 1-0 on Wednesday. The only negative for the club is the fact that both times they dropped points, they dropped them at home (to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United).

Liverpool: Could this really be Liverpool’s year? There is no doubt they’ve started well. They sit level on points with Chelsea after beating Manchester United and also coming from behind on numerous occasions.
Quotes

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he is confident of ending Chelsea‘s 86-match home unbeaten record on Sunday.

"We have new players, a very good mentality and a lot of confidence, so I think we have enough to beat a very good side like Chelsea," he said.

"We played very well in the first half against Atletico Madrid and we have quality in our squad.

"They are a very good team, and it is clear they are more attacking now."

Xabi Alonso echoed his managers confidence about the game.

"We know Chelsea have a great record at home in the Premier League—they haven't been beaten for four seasons. It is going to be really tough but we honestly feel we are ready to get a good result there,” Alonso said.
 
"We won't be going to Stamford Bridge with any fear. We respect them as a very good side but we are confident in our own ability and we believe we can win."

Luiz Felipe Scolari has lavished praise on the Reds ahead of the game—his first encounter with Rafael Benitez.

"These two clubs have the same spirit. They fight until the last minute to win.

"They've won more games in the last minute than us. They have a very good team and it'll be a fantastic game on Sunday. We'll try to win, for sure."

Scolari also stressed the threat that Liverpool will pose.

"They are dangerous because they have a good team with good players. They are very organised. They haven't lost a game this season when, sometimes, they were losing in the last five or 10 minutes, they still managed to change those results.

"That's the best thing about Liverpool for me. They changed the results because they played as a team. That's what I want from my team. The respect is mutual. They don't have one magical player. They have a good team."

Benitez’s current squad is the strongest he has had since arriving from Valencia in 2004, according to the Chelsea manager.

"I've never played against Rafa Benitez before, but I've watched many games in England when I was with Portugal. I think this is Benitez's best team—competitive, quality, players in good positions and with the idea not to lose going into the last few minutes."

Scolari also said he believes that Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard will be key figures on Sunday.

"Steven Gerrard is as important for them as Lampard is for us. Both are very important."

Chelsea midfielder Deco is looking forward to the game on Sunday—and in particular to pitting his wits against Steven Gerrard.

“It is the first game for me here against Liverpool and I hope to play, I don't know if I will or not, but I hope to.

“These games are clasico, a big game important to win because we need to keep the first position, Liverpool are a direct rival to us for the title.

“In the middle they are very strong, but we think we are too, and the importance is to try to play. That can help, and I think we will have to do this."

Moving on to Gerrard, the Portuguese was glowing in his appraisal of the England international.

“He is a great player, I played against him however many times, and he is strong, always working hard. He plays very well, but he is not the only one, all their players are good, but Gerrard is a special player.”


Prediction

This is a hard one to call. Both teams are going great guns at the moment and last season’s semifinal aside, matches between these two teams don’t often have a lot of goals. Therefore I’m going to plump for a 2-1 victory to Chelsea. I have a feeling Liverpool will score first…

Let me know what you think. Leave a comment below and share your views.