Premier League - Chelsea vs Liverpool

The match-up between the two sides has become something of a classic over the last decade or so. From the 'history' vs 'new kid on the block' angle, to the contentious, and sometimes controversial, Champions League ties of yesteryear, to the José Mourinho-Rafa Benitez archrivalry that continues to this day, to Fernando Torres, to the Suarez-Ivanovic Bite-gate of last season, there is certainly no love lost between these two teams and their fans.











The corresponding fixture last season between the two took place over a year ago, on November 11th. Roberto Di Matteo's Blues took the lead on 20 minutes through a trademark John Terry header - his 50th goal for the Blues - and Luis Suarez equalised for the visiting Reds a little over 15 minutes from time, seeing the game end in an agreeably fair 1-1 draw.










The two sides obtained differing results in their Boxing Day fixtures mid-week. Chelsea eeked out an old-fashioned José Mourinho-style 1-0 win at home to Swansea City via a brilliant solo effort from Eden Hazard, while Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium courtesy of a slightly fortuitous goal from Alvaro Negredo seconds before the interval, following Phillipe Coutinho's opener that put the Reds initially ahead and Vincent Kompany's equaliser on half an hour.











Various personnel have represented both of these 2 sides; among them, Nigel Spackman, David Speedie, and of course Fernando Torres, among others - while on the management side, Liverpool icon Rafa Benitez and Blues legend Steve Clarke have in the past represented both Red and Blue.










Current Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, of course, himself spent a significant amount of his early coaching career at Chelsea. After an uneventful playing career due to a knee condition that kept him from playing in anything other than non-League matches, he moved to Chelsea to become head youth coach in 2004 under new manager José Mourinho. He was eventually promoted to reserve team manager, before ultimately leaving to become manager of Championship side Watford in 2008. After a dour spell at Reading and a highly successful one at Swansea, he was appointed Liverpool manager in May 2012 following the departure of Reds deity Kenny Dalglish.


This, like several others before him this season, will be the first time Rodgers comes up against his former boss and mentor - and will, also like the others, doubtless be eyeing a successful first showing.










Out for the visitors are English duo Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge, with youngster Jon Flanagan also ruled out for "a number of weeks", according to manager Brendan Rodgers, with a hamstring injury. The Blues have zero injuries save for fringe left-back Ryan Bertrand, but José Mourinho will be without personal midfield favourite Ramires after the Brazilian incurred his 5th yellow card of the season in the Blues' 1-0 win over Swansea on Thursday, earning him a one-match suspension to be served this weekend.

I love Shed's previews

I think John Terry/Ivanovic are nailed on to score from a corner/set piece....but I think Ramires is big big big loss for you. He's by far your most dynamic and energetic midfielder...and Mikel is very suspect when pressured and our midfield without Gerrard, presses a lot.

Can't see Mata starting, but interesting to see if Mourinho sits back, or takes the initiative.

I'll be gutted if we lose.

Thank you Seps

Interesting to see who Mou picks to start with Hazard in this game

Essien would be a long shot at starting but probably be Lampard and mikel behind hazard, Oscar and shurley with Torres up top. Expecting similar tactics to the arsenal game tbh

Chelsea vs Liverpool offers contrasting styles, says former Blues boss Avram Grant:
Avram Grant believes Sunday's game between Chelsea and Liverpool will offer an intriguing difference of styles between two title contenders
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9090786/premier-league-chelsea-v-liverpool-offers-contrasting-styles-says-avram-grant

"Both teams have different styles of play but I think it will be a good game."

"Brendan likes to see the bigger picture, whereas Jose likes to see the details. It is great that Brendan learned from him because he is a great manager."

"(Rodgers) is a very intelligent guy. He would do a lot of research about football, reading a lot of books and was interested in different aspects of the game."

"He will learn lessons and as you see now, he is a guy who sees the bigger picture. I think it is good for football that people like him are doing well."

"Chelsea are not playing great football at the moment but they have a very good squad. They have almost too many creative players but in my time, there was not even one creative player."

"Sometimes Chelsea depend too much in big games on the counter-attack. The days when it was a major part of the game has finished."

"Chelsea need to use their creative players - there are enough of them - and I am sure Jose is thinking about this."

"I think both sides will stay (in contention) until the end of the season. I think they will fight for the title as both teams have a good base."

Counter attacking still relevant in the game, but otherwise I agree with Grant

I am sadly not going to be able to watch this one live but will catch a replay.

Honestly think we should try and knock Pool while they're down but I feel we'll play a cautious game.

I don't agree that they're all that 'down' at all. They did very well versus City who are imperious at home and were unlucky not only to not get a result, but indeed win.

Our recent record against them gives anything but confidence, and this will be one of the biggest threats to our home record under José we've seen, I reckon.

Certainly, I never like playing Liverpool, at all.

Liverpool are practically on holiday: José Mourinho says Reds title challenge being helped considerably by 'unbelievable advantage' of easy fixture schedule:
Jose Mourinho claims Liverpool are serious title contenders this season because their gentle fixture schedule, with no European competition, is like being ‘on holidays’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2530142/Liverpool-holidays-Mourinho-backs-best-friend-Rodgers-title-chance.html

"One week to prepare a match, play the match and one more week to prepare the next match. It is an unbelievable advantage."

"I think they can (win the title). Because they are good, because Brendan is good. Because they have time to prepare the team tactically, because they are not involved in the heat of the knock-out situation in the Champions League or even the Europa League. These players are going to play 60 matches at Chelsea. Liverpool will play 40 matches. It’s a big difference."

"Quality, plus ambition, plus this advantage, so yes."

"Brendan is doing fantastically but he is training every week in a calm way, every day, maybe twice a day, which is a big, big advantage. He needs to work well but he has a big advantage in the way you build your team."

"You know how much tactical work I have done since pre-season? Not much. It is easy for a team who do that every week. Not to be involved in European competition gives them a big advantage."

From Jan 2011, Torres vs Suarez....

Nearly 3mil/goal nobodies gonna take this scrub from us

Torres has more minutes per goal that Suarez! LEGEND!        

Premier League: Brendan Rodgers believes he owes his career to Jose Mourinho

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes he owes his career to the man he is trying to outsmart this weekend - Jose Mourinho.

Rodgers worked as a youth-team coach at Chelsea during Mourinho's first spell in charge at the London club.

He went on to become a manager in his own right and arrived at Anfield last year after spells at Watford, Reading and Swansea.

Mourinho left Chelsea in 2007 but returned this year after working at European giants Inter Milan and Real Madrid, and is now set to face his former protege for the first time.

Rodgers has impressed during his time on Merseyside and his team are just a point behind Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League ahead of Sunday's meeting at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "I probably wouldn't be sat here today if it wasn't for him. He played a huge part.

"He gave me the self-esteem and confidence that has prepared me greatly for the role I am in today.

"I have been fortunate enough to work with a lot of good people in football and learnt a lot from many people, but the one thing I got from Jose was the details.

"I described him at the time as the best day-to-day organiser in world football.

"I was very fortunate to work with someone of that calibre for just over three years. I really learned from him.

"He was brilliant for me. He really took me under his wing. I was a 30-year-old nobody who worked in youth development, who was assigned to come in and work there with him.

"From the first day of meeting him, he gave me the confidence and responsibility and accountability to work at that level. There are not many managers that would have done that.

"I was in pole position to learn and I wasn't going to miss that opportunity, hoping that one day I could follow in his footsteps at a leading club.

"Thankfully for me, my career has progressed to one of the best institutions in the world.

"It seems a long time ago now, but it was all part of my journey and my story."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9091397/premier-league-brendan-rodgers-believes-he-owes-his-career-to-jose-mourinho
interesting interview

Branislav Ivanovic will shake Luis Suarez's hand, says José Mourinho:
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists Branislav Ivanovic will shake hands with Luis Suarez when they take on Liverpool on Sunday
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9091427/premier-league-chelsea-defender-branislav-ivanovic-to-shake-luis-suarezs-hand

"This was a big thing, but Iva thinks it's something from the past."

"Everyone moves on - he's moved on."

"I think Iva is a big guy. When I say 'big guy', I mean big, strong heart, big strong personality. "

"He's not a Mickey Mouse player who complains at little things."

Hadn't even thought about this

Neither had I. I can't imagine Ivan wouldn't move on.

If Petr Cech keeps a clean sheet tonight, He'll equal Bonetti's record for most clean sheets by a Chelsea player.

Mou: for Chelsea to win we must score more goals from less chances

Expect another bore-fest

So, you guys ready to lose?

Jog on m8

Plus judging by what Mou said, we're clearly ready to draw

The only thing you'll be drawing today is the short straw

Chart verifying that Suarez is a flat track bully and a big game flop

You have gone and jinxed it now, he will smash us.

If only I held such power