Anfield will always be a difficult place to play - Champions or not - or Liverpool in mid-table, bottom three or the top. Liverpool have started to find their form after a depressing start with three wins from three, including the 3-1 win over Napoli on Thursday night when Gerrard came off the bench to score a hat-trick.
The Boss, 'Anco' used his pre-match press conference to laud praise on Liverpool's skipper, but was sending subliminal messages to Liverpool's captain when he said, "He is playing in a very dangerous position for us, a little bit behind Torres and we have to control his position during the game because he will be able to give final passes for Torres and be dangerous when he shoots from distance.
"I think it's very important for us to maintain a compact shape and don't give him the possibility to play with space.
"It's important Mikel can control his position but also the other midfielders have to support him.
"Gerrard is one of the best players in the world, when you can manage the best players, it is easier to win.
"I don't know him as a person, I think he is a good man, but I would like to manage him because I managed a lot of fantastic players and he is in the list of the best players."
Despite his praise of the Liverpool skipper, 'Anco' fended off suggestions that Gerrard would be a transfer target.... again, he said, "No, he is not our list(so we have a list?..... ED), and if he was, it was impossible to buy him because Liverpool didn't want to sell."
Super Frank continues to be unavailable.
Florent Malouda is expected to be fit after twisting his ankle in the midweek win over Spartak Moscow.
Agree 100% - no matter what state they are in they will ALWAYS raise their game when they play us.
I´ve got a slightly uneasy feeling about this. But if we can go ahead in the first half that might just do the trick in getting their heads down though.
The media seem to be going through a phase of suddenly and disproportionately hyping up an individual player - Bale, then Andy Carrol and now Gerrard of course - maybe it will be Kalou´s turn soon? For some reason he seems to have turned a corner although I´m sure we´ll see Drogba and Anelka start.
Essien´s possible absence is a concern. If he´s missing and Gerrard is admist one of his run of good games (before going absent for a month or two) then that could pose a significant problem.
Hopefully Kuyt won´t be fit enough. He always plays well against us.
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
The game was a good one though but it seem Ancelloti was just overwhelmed. Seat kind secondly, I still don't understand why he had to start Remires in that kind of match ,the guy is just not fit to be a Chelsea player !
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