Good opportunity to bounce back away against another top side. In Dalglish's last season, we had mentally poor players who failed to recover from a setback and basically gave up, letting everybody, especially the manager, down. This time we seem to have winners so let's show our mettle. Need to cut out the defensive gifts to the opposition that we've been giving all and sundry since the Arsenal game. Surely even Rodgers has noticed that we are poor at set-pieces and it matters not who the personnel is-- it's almost the same sh!t all the time. Full team to follow after an injury update, although, I probably wouldn't change much except, maybe, one of the fullbacks. One thing to expect is that a spotlight on Skrtel's shirt-tugging at set-pieces, especially after Rodgers's moan about Lescott on Suarez.
Unlike Man City, Chelsea are struggling to score goals. If we can get more than one we're a long way to winning this fixture.
But remember Mourinho is the master of anti-football. He'll bore us all to death and then get Terry or somebody to pop up with goal from a set-piece at he death.
And Chelski can be beaten - they will of course suck the life out of the game - but they can be beaten. Can we handle the midfield that is has just tons of class - if not steel - Ramires aside? How hungry is Luis to score a goal after not getting one yesterday? etc. etc. Team likely will need to be the same - just because if you look at what was on the bench and what came - it didn't do much. Alberto is good for games we are winning so I think I get why he didn't come on. -------------Migs---------------- Johnson--Toure-Sakho--Cissokho -------Lucas-----Allen--------- ----------Henderson---------- Sterling----Suarez-----Coutinho I did drop Skrtel - I'm tired of the goal a game he gives up on set pieces (not that the rest of the team acquits themselves any better)
Rodgers has said that it will be the same squad as was involved at City excepting Moses who is ineligible.
If Moses can't play then bring Ibe. I guess we start the same team. I think our lads feel hard done by the result yesterday. Should be a good game.
As I like the consistency our back four are getting, only change I would make there is if Flanno was healthy. But otherwise no real changes back there. I might consider putting Countinho on the bench to give him some rest if he is as tired as he started to look last game. But that could just be the speed of the Citeh game that got him. But other than that no changes in the midfield or up top either.
I'd like to see Alberto come off the bench if we need a goal. I was clamoring for him yesterday but we got Moses instead. Aspas isn't a bad option either, but I think we'll need a guy who can pick a pass to unlock what will undoubtedly be a bus parked in front of the Chelsea goal.
Aspas is just stuck in no-mans land - one of the reasons I said in these recent blow outs he should have been given 15-20 a game to help get acclimated.
Sterling has scored 2 of his goals in the last 10 minutes of games, had we been taking him off for Aspas we might not have seen his increased confidence and there is no guarantee that Aspas would of picked up his form as he started 4 games at the start of the season with little to show for it. edit: he has started 4 games and came off the bench in 4 others and has still only managed 2 shots all season, I'm not really sure an extra 20 minutes would have made much of a difference.
Think Chelsea was the much more likely game for us to grab the 3 points from. Like how we played against City, do it Sunday and we should win.
Stamford Bridge is a fortress for us, however it certainly wasn't during Mourinho's first tenure at Chelsea. It'll be interesting. The City loss raises the urgency to an extent, although I'm gonna be honest, I won't be upset with a draw. We ought to go all out and try to win this one though, it's a much more winnable game than @ City.
Also I apologize if this was already mentioned, but Ramires got his 5th yellow the other day and can't play. That's a big big loss for them, and something we absolutely must exploit.
Mourinho is still undefeated at Stamford Bridge, is he not? Draw would be a good result. Maybe Suarez can work some magic as he has all season, that's what I think it would take for a win... but any way you look at it, getting something from this match is nothing to scoff at, especially with the top of the table so congested. Arsenal loss and LFC win would be wonderful, so I'm hoping for 2-0 to the good. I expect 1-1, though.
He sure can blow smoke out his butt when he wants to - I believe we have the same two days rest between our last game and this one as they do. And overall, his squad is much deeper and better able to withstand the terrible trials of the CL than Pools.
He has a bigger and better squad. And we need to beware Mourinho; although he loves the sound of his own voice, he can squeeze the entertainment juices out of a football and still win it. I'm hoping we spent yesterday recovering and tactical boardwork, and then some light tactical work on the pitch (set-pieces, anyone?)
I really, REALLY want to win this one. If anything just to shut the pundits up who keep saying Chelsea will win the title.