Liverpool v Chelsea (PL) Sat 28th Aug 2021 17:30 GMT

[coco]

[Munkunku]

Top of the table clash this. 

[Gol15]

 

[ozboy]

This will be tough. Both teams have improved from last time. 
I don’t see them on the training  ground but I won’t be surprised if Chiller is  back in the team. Could go even more defensive pushing azpi out to the right and playing Silva, Zouma or chalobah. That said need the offensive threat as well

Edited August 22, 2021 by ozboy

[axman2526]

I really really really hate this fixture.

VVD back is huge for them, even more important is their fans and both how they drive their side on and how much pressure they place on the officials. 

[Bob stark]

High line means it is Werner time

 

[turnyitb]

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

High line means it is Werner time

 

Agree completely, could even see us switching to 3-5-2 with Mason and Kia benched. 

[Luiz4Chelsea]

1 hour ago, turnyitb said:

Agree completely, could even see us switching to 3-5-2 with Mason and Kia benched. 

So playing Kanté+Jorgi+Kova? Bit of a CM overkill maybe, after all we need someone to feed our forwards. I'm totally for bringing Werner though, love the idea of unleshing Werner-Lukaku on their high line. Other tough calls:

- Alonso vs Chilwell: Chilwell seems like the more suitable choice for their fullbacks but I wouldn't rule Alonso out, he's so full of confidence and not setting a foot wrong at the moment. Also worried that Chilly might not be the type of player who immediately picks up where he left after not playing for a bit.

- Jorgi vs Kova: If we're playing without Kai, Kova could offer a bit more progressive energy. Probably wouldn't be wise to lose the stability Jorginho brings, and Kanté can do it all anyway.

- Christensen vs Silva: This could be a tough call many times this season. Especially in a game like Liverpool I'd love to see Silva's commanding presence. Christensen however has been amazing so far in every aspect of his game, he's also a bit quicker and more mobile, probably deserves to start again.

 

-----------Werner--Lukaku-----------

----------------Mount----------------

Chilwell----Jorginho--Kanté-----James

----Rüdiger--Christensen---Azpi------

----------------Mendy----------------

[coco]

The first league game for Chelsea away fans outside London since 29 FEB 2020 Bournemouth away.

[enigma]

From what I saw of Liverpool the other day, I wasn't overly impressed. Burnley had their chances. The difference is with us is teams need to be clinical against our defence because we don't give up many chances to score, and also we are dangerous going forward now. I feel more confident than ever going into a liverpool game than I have in previous seasons with them under Klopp. It will be interesting to see Lukaku vs VVD. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by enigma

[turnyitb]

6 hours ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

So playing Kanté+Jorgi+Kova? Bit of a CM overkill maybe, after all we need someone to feed our forwards. I'm totally for bringing Werner though, love the idea of unleshing Werner-Lukaku on their high line. Other tough calls:

- Alonso vs Chilwell: Chilwell seems like the more suitable choice for their fullbacks but I wouldn't rule Alonso out, he's so full of confidence and not setting a foot wrong at the moment. Also worried that Chilly might not be the type of player who immediately picks up where he left after not playing for a bit.

- Jorgi vs Kova: If we're playing without Kai, Kova could offer a bit more progressive energy. Probably wouldn't be wise to lose the stability Jorginho brings, and Kanté can do it all anyway.

- Christensen vs Silva: This could be a tough call many times this season. Especially in a game like Liverpool I'd love to see Silva's commanding presence. Christensen however has been amazing so far in every aspect of his game, he's also a bit quicker and more mobile, probably deserves to start again.

 

-----------Werner--Lukaku-----------

----------------Mount----------------

Chilwell----Jorginho--Kanté-----James

----Rüdiger--Christensen---Azpi------

----------------Mendy----------------

I said we could see, personally I’d play Mason jorge Kante across the middle but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kova in for a compact three.

anyway remind me who fed our forward Sunday for the first goal ? 

[Luiz4Chelsea]

2 minutes ago, turnyitb said:

I said we could see, personally I’d play Mason jorge Kante across the middle but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kova in for a compact three.

anyway remind me who fed our forward Sunday for the first goal ? 

Reece James

[axman2526]

Both sides will be desperate not to lose this game, as both can claim some moral victory in doing so.

For them they did not let the European Champions beat them, us not being overcome by the Anfield roar.

Am expecting a 0-0 or maybe 1-1

[turnyitb]

1 hour ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

Reece James

Lol yes he got the assist.  But I think you’ll find it was kova’s through ball that supplied the striker.

I can see Kante linking up very well from right mid with lukaku 

[axman2526]

All of Kante, Kovacic and Jorgi have it in them to be creative, you just have little to no chance any of them can score a goal themselves (bar pens).

[Luiz4Chelsea]

4 minutes ago, turnyitb said:

Lol yes he got the assist.  But I think you’ll find it was kova’s through ball that supplied the striker.

I can see Kante linking up very well from right mid with lukaku 

I know what you mean and I love all three of Jorgi-Kante-Kova, actually find they're being a bit too fundamentally criticised sometimes for not putting out attacker's kind of numbers (so it makes me all the happier to see the kinds of passes from Kovacic you mentioned). However playing Kova-Jorgi-Kante behind Werner-Lukaku would have even me worried of an extreme disconnect, with that setup our only option is to send the two strikers long or deep crosses from the wing backs. I also don't see the need to set up even more defensively than last time we went there and won 1:0, we've got quite a well balanced team and don't need to hide from them at all, particularly their central midfield. I think Mount will be absolutely key for transition if we play Lukaku-Werner, but maybe you'd like to see Kovacic over Jorgi which I could understand

[carrickblue]

We can beat them but it's never wise to bet against Liverpool at home.

First real test of the season. 

[Simplymo]

I really don't feel as optimistic as a few of the posts above. I hate this fixture so much. Their attack is dangerous. 

But...they're an emotional side.

Mess with the minds of the front 3 and we could win this! Rudiger needs to make salah his b1tch. 

[Barry Bridges]

Good.  I prefer this test asap, and not latter on.  Let us see how our side can go against other top tier clubs, and not just the likes of happy to be mid-table London clubs like Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

[CFCCAN]

I'll be happy taking a point......

[axman2526]

1 hour ago, CFCCAN said:

I'll be happy taking a point......

For me if realistically we want to win the title we need to win this game and the one at home to City. The points are important but the physiological hit we could deliver beating Liverpool in front of their fans followed by beating City again could really put some doubts in their players heads.

[axman2526]

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have basically put little credit on Lukaku and all the blame on poor Arsenal defending.

On top of that Carragher has basically said VVD will eat Lukaku alive on Saturday. 

[Gol15]

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have basically put little credit on Lukaku and all the blame on poor Arsenal defending.

On top of that Carragher has basically said VVD will eat Lukaku alive on Saturday. 

100% objective and just fairly getting paid to talk on tv... I love it how they can say whatever prediction they want and even if they're wrong 90% of the time it doesn't matter at all.

[SydneyChelsea]

6 hours ago, Barry Bridges said:

Good.  I prefer this test asap, and not latter on.  Let us see how our side can go against other top tier clubs, and not just the likes of happy to be mid-table London clubs like Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

I agree. If we win then that's a massive step towards our title chances and if we lose, we know where we are well before the run-in.

Billing the fixture as a battle between VVD and Lukaku potentially works in our favour. Lukaku doesn't need to better van Djik as much as occupy him; van Djik is Liverpool's best hope of containing Werner/Mount/Havertz, whereas Lukaku is far from Chelsea's only attacking threat. Containing Alexander-Arnold is going to be a much more important task, and while i'd expect Chilwell to start for that reason, Alonso's attacking and set-piece threat is also effective at pinning Alexander-Arnold back. 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ziyech start this one, as his ability to dribble away from the press and launch accurate long-balls, especially against an inexperienced fullback such as Tskimas, would be really handy.

Edited August 24, 2021 by SydneyChelsea

[Jezz]

Tough match.

Will be a great test for our lads.