CL, Chelsea vs Liverpool, 14/04/09, 19:45 BST

[loz]

3-1 up from the away leg would normally have you feeling pretty damn confident about going through. However this is Chelsea we are talking about and most of us know exactly what I mean by that!

With Terry missing it is likely that Alex will partner Carvalho in the centre however after today's calamitous defending against Bolton there are some calling for Ivanovic to play in the centre alongside Alex with Mancienne playing at right back. I very much doubt that will happen as that would give us a back line that has never played together with a lot of inexperience at this level of football.

Drogba's form on Wednesday and today is encouraging as Liverpool will need to come out attacking and there should be space for us to counter.

If Essien puts in a similar shift to the one he put in Wednesday and if Anelka starts on the bench I feel that is half the job done.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!!

[bennyboy1976]

We will be fine. The callapse today in the last 20 was due to our resting key players at a time when we were so comfortable it made sense too. The players that remained got complacent and thought they could stroll the game. This definately will not happen on Tues i think a lesson was well and trully learned.

Cech,

Ivanovic, Alex, Ricci, Cole,

Essien, Ballack, Lamps

Kalou, Didier, Malouda.

Didier will be the man, he is absolutely flying at the moment and must be scaring the life out of centre halfs.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

We will be fine. The callapse today in the last 20 was due to our resting key players at a time when we were so comfortable it made sense too. The players that remained got complacent and thought they could stroll the game. This definately will not happen on Tues i think a lesson was well and trully learned.

Cech,

Ivanovic, Alex, Ricci, Cole,

Essien, Ballack, Lamps

Kalou, Didier, Malouda.

Didier will be the man, he is absolutely flying at the moment and must be scaring the life out of centre halfs.

Spot on. If Cech, Ivan, Essien, Malouda and Didier play the exact same way as they did on Wednesday, we shouldn't have any problems.

CAREFREE WHEREEVER YOU MAY BE! WE ARE THE FAMOUS CFC!!

[jordanl5182]

We will be fine. The callapse today in the last 20 was due to our resting key players at a time when we were so comfortable it made sense too. The players that remained got complacent and thought they could stroll the game. This definately will not happen on Tues i think a lesson was well and trully learned.

Very much agree with you. Complacency is one of our biggest worries and is the only thing that will prevent us going through. Obviously we are more than capable of not letting Liverpool get 3 goals at the Bridge and the result against Bolton should have been a wake-up call. The Manager won't let it be a problem for Liverpool.

[blizeH]

The problem with the Bolton match is that it will give Liverpool belief though. If we'd shut them out and kept it 4-0, their heads would be down, but as it is they'll be thinking f**k it, if we go at them, we might get something out of this..."

[bennyboy1976]

The problem with the Bolton match is that it will give Liverpool belief though. If we'd shut them out and kept it 4-0, their heads would be down, but as it is they'll be thinking f**k it, if we go at them, we might get something out of this..."

Absolutley right mate, it will definately give them belief but have they got the players to implement the same tactics that Bolton did, cause as far as i could see that was the only way they could penetrate our defence.

We are Chelsea and i have followed this club home and away for too many years to know this tie is far from over, but i just can't see the players letting a 2 (3) goal lead slip at home to of all clubs Liverpool.

Edited April 12, 2009 by bennyboy1976

[mad_mac]

Think we will start as BennyBoy has predicted. However, I am not filled with confidence about Alex (who can be great, or desparate) and Riccy (not 100% match fit, and looked off the pace on Saturday) being paired together at the CB. This means that whoever plays in teh holding role will have quite the job to do.

Gerrard will be marked by Essien again, and I hope that Ballack and Lampard can link up as well as they did on Saturday.

Malouda has come into some form lately, and Kalou is gaining confidence. I really hope we don't play Anelka out wide, but I could see him floating around, although I hope not as he's not a wide man, so I'd rather play people to their strengths!

[sergeyMS]

We were 4-0 ahead and the job was done. After the 1st half preparations for 2nd leg have started, who cares what happened later, if we anyway finished with 3 pts in the pocket.

All happened was a part of the build-up for the game against Pool.

They`ve won 4-0, but it shouldn`t make the game at Stamford any easier for them.

We`ve shown firepower, we`ve shown confidence and, what`s more important, we`ve got a good message from Bolon in the build-up to our 2nd leg clash.

We`ll crash the scum......C`mon!!!!

Edited April 13, 2009 by sergeyMS

[octville]

We were 4-0 ahead and the job was done. After the 1st half preparations for 2nd leg have started, who cares what happened later, if we anyway finished with 3 pts in the pocket.

All happened was a part of the build-up for the game against Pool.

They`ve won 4-0, but it shouldn`t make the game at Stamford any easier for them.

We`ve shown firepower, we`ve shown confidence and, what`s more important, we`ve got a good message from Bolon in the build-up to our 2nd leg clash.

We`ll crash the scum......C`mon!!!!

I am with all of you guys on this. It is journalist garbage to suggest that Liverpool has a lifeline after our supposed collapse against Bolton in 9 minutes. We rested Essien, Lamps and Drogs.

But that also proves my point. That Mikel isn't as good as he was worth when we had to over-compensate for the Olso's fiasco. He is slow in recovery and enthusiasm can only get you limited success. Essien is of a proven quality. He is the best defensive attacking midfielder even though this term is an oxymoron. He protects the full-back very well and can initiate options from midfield. It also proves that Deco can never really play in the Chelsea first 11 despite his injury setback. Undoubtedly talented but I feel that Deco has reached his maximum potential and struggles to up his tempo in the Premiership.

All said, I am glad that we are also seeing an improved Malouda, along the drogs whom is slowly approaching his zenith best again.

What Liverpool ? ... It's chelsea vs Porto at istanbul !

[charierre]

We need to come out of the blocks quickly tomorrow and deny Liverpool possession.Taking control of central midfield will be crucial.Its going to be a tough one but we can see this job through. Big games will be needed from our wide players both traacking back and stretching their defence.

[Virosh]

I think if we deny them the opportunity of an early goal in either half that's pretty much 50% of the job done. If the game just rolls on boringly, they will lose any enthusiasm. So, we need to play it cool for basically 10 minutes in the beginning of each half and we should be fine.

[Maksimov]

Just watched the press conference for tomorrow's match on the official site and I was wondering if anyone else watched it. Seems like a pretty good service. The picture quality is ok, the streaming of the video is pretty smooth and audio is good apart from the journos' questions as they obviously didn't have any microphones on them. There wasn't anything particularily interesting in today's press conference though.

[smithy20]

just a thought, but i reckon benitez might change his tactics from last week and put gerrard out right so as to be free from essien's pocket, or atleast drag him to a position where essien isnt as good and gerrard will be able to hav some more of the ball.

But surely after we comprehensively thrashed em last week, he will be looking to change things in some way?

[Gem]

I have a feeling that he'll play Gerrard on the right too, however that will just mean Essien plays on the left, his job will still be to man mark. Essien is quicker, more powerful and stronger than Gerrard. Now, if there was only a way he could man mark both the runt and Torres.

[geezer]

Mascherano's the one to watch this time. With him and Alonso in holding roles either of them can push forward into spaces created by Gerrard dragging Essien out wide.

[charierre]

Its imperative we play our own game and let them worry about conceding to us.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Mascherano's the one to watch this time. With him and Alonso in holding roles either of them can push forward into spaces created by Gerrard dragging Essien out wide.

Totally agree. He ruled the show against Blackburn at the weekend. I think Lampard will have to try and suck one of them out of the game throughout.

[Virosh]

Mascherano's the one to watch this time. With him and Alonso in holding roles either of them can push forward into spaces created by Gerrard dragging Essien out wide.

He really isn't an attacking player. An animal in the holding role, I agree, but not his trade to make runs forward.

[loz]

Maybe not his specialism to make forward runs but a high number of Liverpool attacks are kick started by him. He is a huge player for them and his potential impact on tomorrow's game should not be under estimated.

When Maka's days were looking numbered there was not a player in the world I would have taken before Mascherano if we were looking for a straight swap.

[geezer]

Signing off now. Let's go to war!

[Paul Seery]

Signing off now. Let's go to war!

Here here!

[BlueBosnian]

We better go for the win. A carefull one. We are playing at home and anything but a win should not even be considered. Signing off until tomorrow. Hoping for a great day like the one last week. Come on you Blues!

[icecoolguy22]

I do think the 'collapse' on the weekend will help us in this game. On the negative, it showed we are pretty ordinary if Lampard or Drogba is off the field. On the positive side, it is the alarm bell we needed without too much damage. It only take 10 minutes to score 3 goals, Im sure Hiddink will warn the players not to play for time , but to play football. Liverpool do not have Kevin Davies or Crouch, so if they do decide to play long ball, Alex and Carvalho should handle them easily.

I dont see 3 goals in Liverpool while keep it clean at the back. The danger is if we start slow and let them dictate the term and have a early goal, it will be a long nervous night for us. I'm sure Gerrard and Alonso will try their hardest to con the referee to steal penalty and have our players sent off. Hopefully the referee will cope the pressure, and our players not fall into their trap.

Go the Mighty Blues!

[The Moos]

I don't feel worried or nervous about this game....and that scares me

I hope Hiddink can motivate the players and make them play a really good game. If we lose this one I will go drown myself in a bucket of vomit :)

[nofizzleforshizzle]

Did anyone see Ballack's reaction after Kuyt missed that shot in the first half after he beat Terry? The one that got saved by Cech.

What was that about? He looked like he had a fit. I just caught it in the highlights, which I've played more than ten times today.

Edited April 14, 2009 by nofizzleforshizzle