EPL Special : Liverpool vs Chelsea
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both teams recently suffeing setbacks but seems to have bounce back. tough match but home advantage doesnt necessarily mean anything as proven by arsenal. -
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This match is on Sat 20 Jan...
Ch 23 - 8:45 pm - (Live)
So if you got any dates or appointments, better clear it away... Tell your mother or wife or girlfriends you will be busy this sat... cos got important "thing" to attend to...
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A match not to be missed.
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CECH READY TO RETURN WITH SKULLCAP
Fit-again Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has revealed how he will have to wear a special helmet when he returns to action. The Czech international is expected to return against Liverpool on Saturday in the Barclays Premiership.
Coach Jose Mourinho has welcomed the return of the player. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since October after a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt left him requiring surgery on a fractured skull.
Portuguese goalkeeper Hilario has mostly deputised for Cech but now the Czech star says his comeback will be accompanied by special protective headgear.
Cech, who is to have a final check-up on Wednesday, said: "The specialists have allowed me to train 100% and unless something unexpected happens at the check-up, I should receive official permission to play matches. But I will have to play with a special helmet. -
not bad. suggest all gks wear that permanently
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What will happen to hillario? -
I think Liverpool will want to protect their unbeaten home records given their disastrous away record..
and they are fighting for 2nd place.. -
depite the obious unrest at chelsea, they will still play at they best and on let the matters off the pitch affect them
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The illusion of squad depth
Rafael Benitez has quantity at his disposal but quality, as the manager himself has admitted, is limited. Given the funds they granted their manager, the Liverpool board were presumably surprised to find themselves held accountable for the failure of the fringe players against Arsenal.
If they were unable to provide the extra resources required to add Daniel Alves, Simao Sabrosa and David Villa, the Spaniard's preferred signings, they still supplied a budget that would be the envy of many, and the hapless Gabriel Paletta was not their choice.
But much as the FA Cup defeat at Burnley two years ago revealed mediocrity in depth, so did Liverpool's stylish demolition at Arsenal's hands. January 2005's humiliation featured David Raven, Zak Whitbread and John Welsh, who have been offloaded to lower-division clubs, and Darren Potter, who soon will be. The homegrown pair of Lee Peltier and Danny Guthrie must fear the precedents. And while Liverpool's Academy has not made a significant discovery since Steven Gerrard, Leighton Baines, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan and David Nugent, Scousers all, prospering elsewhere; it helps explain why Benitez is so jealous of Arsenal.
There are no shortage of full-backs at Anfield; too few, however, are of the required standard. Lucas Neill, after interminable wranglings with Blackburn, is expected to finally provide an alternative to Steve Finnan but John Arne Riise, despite falling below his best this season, is almost unchallenged on the left. Stephen Warnock, whose career has stagnated, and Fabio Aurelio, who has been exposed defensively, are following in the undistinguished trail blazed by Djimi Traore.
Amid myriad midfield permutations, the only players to present unanswerable cases for selection all favour the centre: Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko. If Benitez's resident wildcard Luis Garcia's enigmatic brilliance should guarantee his presence at Anfield next season, the same cannot be said for Liverpool's band of wingers. Consistency has eluded all and it is pertinent that, while Benitez embarked on a lengthy pursuit of Mark Gonzalez, Jermaine Pennant was far from his first choice.
Presumably Harry Kewell would not meet Benitez's definition of an ideal winger either, despite a rapprochement last season that resulted in the Australian's finest form since he left Leeds. But as it stands, his lamentable showing in the FA Cup final looks like his Liverpool farewell. Only the unlikelihood of selling an injured player, despite his depreciating value, could keep Kewell at Anfield.
And in attack, Peter Crouch continues to baffle Benitez. Often at his most ineffective in the most significant games, yet capable of scoring whenever he appears on the brink of demotion, he polarises opinion. A lack of pace is impossible to rectify, however, and while Craig Bellamy has been linked with Aston Villa, the taller striker may be the man more likely to leave.
Of Jose Reina, Jerzy Dudek, Gabriel Paletta, Fabio Aurelio, Stephen Warnock, Boudewijn Zenden, Harry Kewell, Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch, a question can be asked: how many, if any, would Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal really want? That is the crux of the matter. Because, while Benitez's fondness for squad rotation remains, it is impossible if strength in depth is just an illusion. -
both clubs have squad depth problems
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both sides not playing up to standards recently
esp chelski, 5 draws in 7 game iirc
so might be a draw game
sgpools here i come -
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Liverpool v Chelsea
Ch 23 - 8:45 pm - (Live)
Liverpool entertain Chelsea at Anfield in the first instalment of Grand Slam Weekend. The two bitter rivals do battle on Saturday lunchtime with Chelsea aiming to close the gap on leaders Manchester United and Liverpool looking to record a rare win over one of the top sides.
Jose Mourinho enjoys a 100 per cent record against Liverpool in the Premiership having won all five of his previous contests, while Rafa Benitez will be looking to get one over the Portuguese tactician.
The Reds are unbeaten at home this season and they are currently the form team in the Premiership having lost just one of their last 11 league outings.
Petr Cech is set to hand Chelsea a massive boost by returning to the side for the first time since suffering his horrific head injury last October.
The Czech Republic international has been declared fit to face Liverpool and Mourinho must decide whether or not to throw the giant keeper straight back into the deep end at Anfield.
Chelsea go into the game without influential midfielder Claude Makelele as he is suspended, but Ashley Cole is available after serving a ban.
Andrei Shevchenko remains doubtful with a hamstring problem which forced him to miss last weekend's win over Wigan.
John Terry and Joe Cole remain absent for the reigning champions because of injury.
Benitez has a decision to make in attack after he started Peter Crouch, Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt against Watford last weekend.
The Spaniard is expected to revert to two up front with all three players battling for the two spots.
Jermaine Pennant is pushing for a return to the starting line-up, while John Arne Riise is expected to replace Fabio Aurelio in the starting XI.
The Reds are still without long-term casualties Luis Garcia, Mohamed Sissoko, Harry Kewell, Bolo Zenden and Mark Gonzalez. -
i think its a draw.
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LIVERPOOL against Chelsea is the heavyweight Saturday lunchtime kick-off, giving the Reds the chance to consolidate their third placing in the table, and the Blues the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Manchester United. Liverpool are set for changes in attack and defence, where they used three centre-backs last time out at Watford.
Now boss Rafa Benitez must perm two from Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger, while in midfield Mark Gonzalez is back from a shin problem.
Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with 10 goals.
Dirk KUYT is the club's leading marksman in the Premiership with seven.
CHELSEA and Liverpool are both playing their 100th Premiership matches under their respective managers. Mikel Jon Obi will start for Chelsea in place of the suspended Claude Makelele with Michael Essien still in defence and Wayne Bridge has a knee injury.
Keeper Petr Cech could make his first appearance since fracturing his skull.
Didier DROGBA is the highest scoring Premiership player this season with 21 goals, 14 of which are League goals putting him one clear of Manchester United's Cristiano RONALDO at the top of the table for the Barclays Golden Boot award.
Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Pennant, Gonzalez, Gerrard, Alonso, Bellamy, Crouch, Fowler, Kuyt, Dudek, Paletta, Zenden, Guthrie.
Chelsea : Hilario, Cech, Cudicini, Hedman, Geremi, Ferreira, Carvalho, Essien, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Robben, Drogba, Shevchenko, Mikel, Diarra, Kalou, Wright-Phillips.
REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Liverpool 1-4 Chelsea
2 October 2005 - Ref: Graham Poll
Liverpool scorer: Gerrard 36
Chelsea scorers: Lampard 27 pen, Duff 43, Cole 63, Geremi 82
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
17 September 2006 - Ref: Mike Riley
Chelsea scorer: Drogba 42
Sent Off: Ballack (Chelsea) 51
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
at Liverpool only
League: Liverpool 42 wins, Chelsea 8, Draws 13
Prem: Liverpool 9 wins, Chelsea 3, Draws 2 -
D. Kuyt scores for Pool 1-0 just after 3 mins assisted by Crouch
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is cech still blur after that injury
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impressive volley from J. Pennant to make it 2-0 for pool. great stuff
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SONG BOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
match result 4-1 la!!!!!!!! -
more bad news for chelsea. swp subs for injured robben
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Pool's second goal very good...
Go pool... goo... more goals pls... -
Drogba put the ball through Ballack's narrow legs for the free-kick...
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Chelsea sux big time.
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its a mistake to play him.Originally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:is cech still blur after that injury
he seemed uncomfortable.
anyway liverpool deserves to win. -
didnt watch the game but seems that pool dominated the game
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Yeah pool played very well today... Chelsea are feeling the pressure i think...