By dixon9
April 27 2007

Here we go again! Liverpool for the 657th time (well, it seems like that!) in 4 years! These matches against the scousers are still big occasions of course and I’ll be just as tense and excited as if, say for example we were playing Real Madrid BUT....

....without wishing to offend the scousers, perhaps we might play Real Madrid instead next season (And maybe Liverpool fans feel the same?).  How many times have our two clubs faced each other over the last four seasons?  Stattos?

 

Much has been said with regard to the comments made by José that Liverpool have an advantage in that with being out of the rest of competitions, they’ve had more opportunity to rest and take it “easier” in the matches leading up to this tie (the Man City and Wigan league games were almost like testimonials).  Then there is the matter that we have so many players on one yellow away from suspension;  Jose is right – they do have the advantage, although I’m sure if you were to ask both Liverpool and Chelsea fans which position they’d like to be in during late April - competing in all comps or just going for one - all would opt for the former!  Certainly Platini does seem to have a point in narrowing down just how many teams should be able to compete in the CL - as the season goes on, the teams that progress further in competitions can always come up against a more rested lower placed side - is that fair? 

 

As for the yellows well that’s pretty much our fault isn’t it so we’re just have to hope those players aren’t “targeted” or provoked too much.  We currently have Cech, Robben, J Cole, Drogba and Terry all just one yellow away from missing the 2^nd leg!

 

Liverpool do have this tendency to be a bit fortunate recently in the CL – they face us with problems, theY were drawn against a “not so Barcelona” Barcelona side, a PSV without Alex, Mascharino allowed to sign, allowed into the competition before without qualifying, a semi-final “goal” against us which wasn’t a goal…..STILL, that’s the way football goes I suppose – let’s hope we get a bit of luck soon!

 

Losing Essien due to suspension is a blow of course; his power in midfield will be sorely missed although I’d prefer him to miss this match instead of the 2^nd leg.  The other problems are that Carvalho will probably be missing (unless this is a José ruse) and Ballack who hobbled off against Newcastle.  The German captain tends to have much better performances in CL games so the donkey work and water carrying may be carried out by Makelele and Lampard.

 

The loss of Carvalho is particularly disconcerting as I suspect that Terry isn’t still 100% - recently the Portuguese has bailed our captain out a few times and almost certainly Mourinho will be forced to use the rusty Boulahrouz  in the central defenders role.

Liverpool have had excellent preparation for this match and the constantly improving right-back Steve Finnan looks to be available again after two games out with a neck injury.  Pennant is one yellow away from suspension.

As far as tactics and team selection are concerned this is a very difficult one to call.  With our notable absences and possible weakness in the centre of defence, will Benitez target this area as he did during the league fixture at Anfield or will he opt for a largely conservative approach, focusing on not leaking a goal and going for the counter attack?  I suspect he may play safe – but when countering, attack the centre of our defence with Crouch and Bellamy – our wings will be more difficult to exploit with the rapid Diarra on one side and Ashley Cole on the other.

As for Mourinho´s approach to this match, and taking into account our players missing, he has two options – go defensive and try for a 0-0 knowing that we’ll be up to full strength for the Anfield leg and also with Robben likely to return or…..or experiment a bit?  I’d like him to try something a bit different to be honest – something like a 4-1-3-1-1 of Cech, Diarra, Terry, Boulahrouz, A Cole then Maka in the erm….Makalele position and then a midfield of Lampard, Mikel Obi and SWP and then Joe Cole playing just behind Shevchenko.  Drogba? What about Drogba?  Well, he looks a bit knackered to be honest – let him rest on the bench and save him as an ace up the sleeve just in case.  OK, we do seem a bit weak in midfield but do we have a choice?

The Joe Cole/Shevchenko is a long awaited combination for a lot of Chelsea fans and it’s a shame Jose hasn´t had an opportunity to try this earlier – will he try it this time?  We’ll have to see but with Essien and Ballack missing and Mascherino adding to the scousers midfield don’t be surprised if we are forced to go more defensive.

Prediction?  0-0……I’d be happy with 0-0 as I’m much more optimistic about the Anfield leg with a full strength team out..

Chelsea (from): Cech, Cuducini, Diarra, Geremi, Boulahrouz, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, Lampard, SWP, Mikel Obi, J Cole, Drogba and Shevchenko.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Mascherano, Fowler, Kuyt, Bellamy, Crouch, Dudek, Zenden.