English Premier League 2009
Chelsea
vs
LiverpoolMatch Schedule:Date:October 4th
Time: 15:00 (GMT)
There is no doubting that the most anticipated game in the Premier League this weekend is Liverpool's visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. It is the first time this season that either club faces another 'top four' team. Both sides will be desperate to get points on the board and not lose ground to Manchester United so early in the title race. Chelsea may have a new manager in Carlo Ancelotti however there will be little the teams do not know about each other having locked horns a staggering 24 times over the past five seasons. Liverpool had the better of it domestically last term, completing the double over, and finishing a place above the Blues, however the general consensus in the football world seems to be that Chelsea are the more likely to mount a serious challenge to United’s continued domination this year. The most notable absentee for Chelsea will be Peter Cech who is suspended following his red card in the surprise 3-1 defeat to Wigan last weekend, however there are also a couple of injury worries for Ancelotti to contend with in midfield. Michael Ballack sat out the defeat to Wigan and John Obi Mikel was taken off with an ankle knock. Neither played a part in the Champions League midweek and both will be doubtful to recover in time for the weekend. Joe Cole will be pushing for a start but the slightly more defence-minded Juliano Belletti may be preferred on the right, while Yuri Zhirkov will be attempting to dislodge Florent Malouda on the opposite flank. Didier Drogba was rested mid-week to give him extra time to recover from his injury and Chelsea’s top scorer will undoubtedly come back in to the starting line-up to partner Nicolas Anelka, who may be deployed a little deeper.
17 Bosingwa - 6 Carvalho - 26 Terry - 3 Cole
35 Belletti – 5 Essien - 8 Lampard – 15 Malouda
11 Drogba
Rafael Benitez has a central midfield dilemma of his own to sort out. Since losing Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid in the summer Liverpool’s midfield has never looked quite as solid and settled as last year. Summer signing Alberto Aquilani may prove to be the perfect replacement but with his debut not anticipated until late October the last thing Rafa needed was for Javier Mascherano to pick up a knock. The Argentine was again missing from the midweek defeat against Fiorentina and is unlikely to feature against Chelsea - particularly given the recurring nature of groin injuries when not allowed to heal fully. Leiva Lucas is one of eight players to have started every game so far this campaign as Benitez has uncharacteristically kept his starting line ups fairly consistent and, despite the disappointing performance in Florence, it would not be surprising if the same team is named again – a chance to redeem themselves if you like.
2 Johnson - 23 Carragher - 37 Skrtel - 22 Insua
18 Kuyt - 21 Lucas – 15 Benayoun - 8 Gerrard – 12 Aurelio
9 Torres
The game is vitally important for both teams and will inevitably be a tense and tight affair. Although they picked up three points in the Champions League against Apoel Nicosia, Chelsea were far from impressive on Wednesday and will be looking to get back on track. Meanwhile defeat for Liverpool would be their third so far this season and would severely dent their title hopes even at this early stage. The centre of the park will be a key area and if either Ballack or Mascherano can declare themselves fit then that could give their team the edge. However, goals win matches and both teams will be looking to their talismanic front-men to once again oblige. Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba are both unplayable on their day and are in fine form so far this season netting 14 goals in 14 games between them. The better player on the day could decide it.
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