Liverpool vs Chelsea

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who will come up tops in the battle of the ‘Troubled Two’ as Liverpool face Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday?

January 28th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Blues vs Reds
Team balance : +1 Redsas they have a more balanced side if Rafa Benitez does not tinker again. Liverpool’s backline of Hyppia, Skrtel. Carragher and Aurelio is steady and solid in front of reliable Pepe Reina. The midfield have enough ‘generals’ in the form of Gerrard, Reira and Alonso. Fernando Torres is gaining fitness and form and his combination with Gerrard holds the key to unlock the Blues’ shaky defence. JT and Carvalho are on the decline. With that they leaked goals through the centre as Petr Cech was exposed time and again. In the midfield, Ballack and Belleti are not as creative as Liverpool’s pair. It is in the attack that the Blues are weak especially when Drogba is still warring.
Form : +0.5 BluesThe Reds have been frustrated in the two meetings against Everton while the Blues won their two games, esp the one against Stoke with the firm belief that they won’t lie down and surrender.Midfield general : +0.5 Reds There is very little difference between Gerrard and Lampard in all manner. Gerrard leads slightly as he has a tried and tested partner in Fernando Torres wherelse Lampard had to do it all alone.Manager: +0.5 RedsRafa Benitez is more experienced in managing a league team. Though, at times he made puzzling team decisions, he had more tactical variation than Scolari. Moreover, Rafa is managing HIS team as all the players were identified by him whole Scolari inherited the team.Homeground : +0.5 RedsThough the Blues had an impressive away record, they can be thrashed as witnessed in Old Trafford. The Anfield ground is not a pleasant one for the Blues.Overall, Liverpool scored in more areas. However, all these pluses would turn into crosses if the effect of the self inflicting internal troubles get into the Liverpool team.Final score : 1:1