Home Premier League Chelsea Before Kick-off – Chelsea v Liverpool FC

Before Kick-off – Chelsea v Liverpool FC

3
0

TEAM NEWS

Ramires is suspended for Chelsea. The Brazil midfielder picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea and serves a one-match ban, with Frank Lampard likely to return to the starting line-up in his place.

Boss Jose Mourinho is likely to rotate his options once more, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill in line to return in defence at the expense of Ashley Cole and David Luiz, while Fernando Torres could start up front against his former club.

Liverpool will be without forward Victor Moses for their Premier League trip to Chelsea due to the terms of his loan from the Londoners. That leaves the Reds short on numbers with captain Steven Gerrard and defender Jon Flanagan (both hamstring) not ready to return.

Manager Brendan Rodgers could again bolster his squad with youth or reserve-team players. Striker Daniel Sturridge (ankle) and defender Jose Enrique (knee) are also still on the sidelines.

LINE-UPS”

Chelsea Starting Line-up (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic; Cahill; Terry; Azpilicueta; Mikel, Lampard; Oscar, Willian, Hazard; Torres

Liverpool Probable Starting Line-up (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Johnson, Sakho, Skrtel, Cissokho; Lucas, Allen, Henderson; Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez

PREDICTION:

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

Liverpool are in better form than Chelsea at the moment and had the West London club being managed by anyone other than Jose Mourinho, an away win for Liverpool will be certainly on the cards. Chelsea haven’t managed to do well against the Reds of late, but with him at the helm, the form factor might count for little. A 2-1 to the Reds seems a likely result.

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea have lost three and won just one of their last five Barclays Premier League home meetings with the Reds (D1).

Luis Suarez scored a second-half equaliser in both Barclays Premier League meetings with Chelsea last season.

Chelsea have won only two of their last 13 Premier League encounters with Liverpool (W2 D4 L7)

Five of Chelsea’s last seven Premier League wins against Liverpool have come under Jose Mourinho.

Liverpool have scored 29 goals in their last 14 trips to London in the Premier League (2.07 per game)

Liverpool have conceded a total of only three goals in their last nine end-of-year games.

The Reds have scored more goals in 2013 than any other Premier League side (83).

No player has created more goalscoring chances in the Premier League in 2013-14 than Eden Hazard (46, level with Samir Nasri).

Luis Suarez (29 goals in 27 appearances in 2013) needs one more goal to become only the 7th player to reach the 30-goal mark in a calendar year in the Premier League era.

Chelsea have never lost a Premier League home game under Jose Mourinho, but when the original unbeaten run continued after he left Chelsea in 2007, Liverpool were the team who ended it (October 2008).

By Steve Milne – What are your predictions for the match – Leave your comments below 🙂

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here