Chelsea and especially Liverpool find themselves behind Manchester United and Arsenal in the title race, and that is largely because neither have yet managed to beat any of the other ‘big four’ teams. This game represents a chance for Chelsea to end that miserable record and pile the pressure on leaders Arsenal, who do not play until Monday night.
The Blues will certainly be confident of beating a Liverpool side that are low on confidence and without some key players. Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger will miss this clash and all three will be sorely missed.
The Reds are a long way behind the title challengers, and instead find themselves in a battle with the likes of Everton and Aston Villa for fourth place in the Premier League this season, nowhere near what many Liverpool supporters expected at the beginning of the campaign.
Liverpool fans have firmly focused their attentions to the club’s American owners in recent weeks, who admitted that they approached Jurgen Klinsmann about the possibility of replacing Rafa Benitez as manager of the club. Such attention has meant the focus has shifted somewhat away from the stumbling efforts of the team.
The whole situation feels tense, and is similar to the disintegration of Jose Mourinho’s relationship with his superiors at Chelsea. The Blues replaced the self proclaimed ‘Special One’ with the quietly effective Israeli Avram Grant, and since he took charge The Blues have withstood an injury crisis to stay within striking distance of top dogs United and Arsenal.
With Drogba, Kalou, Mikel, Lampard, Terry and Essien all to return to the side, Chelsea are only going to get stronger as the season reaches its conclusion. With both Arsenal and United still to visit Stamford Bridge, it could be argued that the championship is there for Chelsea to win. The Blues know however that they cannot afford to slip and they need to collect another three points against Liverpool this Sunday.
For Liverpool meanwhile, it is imperative that they qualify for next season’s Champions League as the ‘Big Four’ is rapidly becoming a ‘Top Three’ with Liverpool the cast-offs. A win for Benitez at Stamford Bridge - something no Premier League side has done since Arsenal in February 2004.
FORM GUIDE
Chelsea
02 Jan v Portsmouth (A) DREW 1-1 (Prem)
30 Jan v Reading (H) WON 1-0 (Prem)
26 Jan v Wigan (A) WON 2-1 (FA Cup)
23 Jan v Everton (A) WON 1-0 (Prem)
19 Jan v Birmingham (A) WON 1-0 (Prem)
12 Jan v Tottenham (H) WON 2-0 (Prem)
Liverpool
02 Feb v Sunderland (H) WON 3-0 (Prem)
30 Jan v West Ham (A) LOST 0-1 (Prem)
26 Jan v Havant & Waterlooville (H) WON 5-2 (FA Cup)
21 Jan v Aston Villa (H) DREW 2-2 (Prem)
15 Jan v Luton (H) WON 5-0 (FA Cup)
12 Jan v Middlesbrough (A) DREW 1-1 (Prem)
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea
Frank Lampard (thigh) and Ricardo Carvalho (suspension) should make welcome returns to the side. Andriy Shevchenko (back) and John Terry (foot) are definitely missing and Jon Obi Mikel may return from the African Cup of Nations.
Liverpool
Star striker Fernando Torres (hamstring) is a huge loss to The Reds after he limped out of Spain’s midweek friendly win over France. Cultured midfielder Xabi Alonso is suspended, so expect Gerrard and Mascherano to continue in the centre of the park. Defenders Alvaro Arbeloa and Daniel Agger (foot) are missing along with Ukrainian front man Andriy Voronin (ankle).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea - Nicolas Anelka
Anelka got his first Chelsea goal in last week’s draw at Portsmouth and the classy French striker will hope to impress against one of his many former clubs on Sunday. Anelka is the ultimate predator, and will hope to capitalise on a distinct lack of pace at the heart of the visitor’s defence.
Liverpool - Steven Gerrard
After captaining his country on Wednesday against Gerrard will have to be at his best if Liverpool are going to take anything from this testing away trip. In the absence of Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, Gerrard will have to provide most of his side’s attacking impetus against the club that he came so close top signing him a couple of seasons ago.
The Blues will certainly be confident of beating a Liverpool side that are low on confidence and without some key players. Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger will miss this clash and all three will be sorely missed.
The Reds are a long way behind the title challengers, and instead find themselves in a battle with the likes of Everton and Aston Villa for fourth place in the Premier League this season, nowhere near what many Liverpool supporters expected at the beginning of the campaign.
Liverpool fans have firmly focused their attentions to the club’s American owners in recent weeks, who admitted that they approached Jurgen Klinsmann about the possibility of replacing Rafa Benitez as manager of the club. Such attention has meant the focus has shifted somewhat away from the stumbling efforts of the team.
The whole situation feels tense, and is similar to the disintegration of Jose Mourinho’s relationship with his superiors at Chelsea. The Blues replaced the self proclaimed ‘Special One’ with the quietly effective Israeli Avram Grant, and since he took charge The Blues have withstood an injury crisis to stay within striking distance of top dogs United and Arsenal.
With Drogba, Kalou, Mikel, Lampard, Terry and Essien all to return to the side, Chelsea are only going to get stronger as the season reaches its conclusion. With both Arsenal and United still to visit Stamford Bridge, it could be argued that the championship is there for Chelsea to win. The Blues know however that they cannot afford to slip and they need to collect another three points against Liverpool this Sunday.
For Liverpool meanwhile, it is imperative that they qualify for next season’s Champions League as the ‘Big Four’ is rapidly becoming a ‘Top Three’ with Liverpool the cast-offs. A win for Benitez at Stamford Bridge - something no Premier League side has done since Arsenal in February 2004.
FORM GUIDE
Chelsea
02 Jan v Portsmouth (A) DREW 1-1 (Prem)
30 Jan v Reading (H) WON 1-0 (Prem)
26 Jan v Wigan (A) WON 2-1 (FA Cup)
23 Jan v Everton (A) WON 1-0 (Prem)
19 Jan v Birmingham (A) WON 1-0 (Prem)
12 Jan v Tottenham (H) WON 2-0 (Prem)
Liverpool
02 Feb v Sunderland (H) WON 3-0 (Prem)
30 Jan v West Ham (A) LOST 0-1 (Prem)
26 Jan v Havant & Waterlooville (H) WON 5-2 (FA Cup)
21 Jan v Aston Villa (H) DREW 2-2 (Prem)
15 Jan v Luton (H) WON 5-0 (FA Cup)
12 Jan v Middlesbrough (A) DREW 1-1 (Prem)
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea
Frank Lampard (thigh) and Ricardo Carvalho (suspension) should make welcome returns to the side. Andriy Shevchenko (back) and John Terry (foot) are definitely missing and Jon Obi Mikel may return from the African Cup of Nations.
Liverpool
Star striker Fernando Torres (hamstring) is a huge loss to The Reds after he limped out of Spain’s midweek friendly win over France. Cultured midfielder Xabi Alonso is suspended, so expect Gerrard and Mascherano to continue in the centre of the park. Defenders Alvaro Arbeloa and Daniel Agger (foot) are missing along with Ukrainian front man Andriy Voronin (ankle).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea - Nicolas Anelka
Anelka got his first Chelsea goal in last week’s draw at Portsmouth and the classy French striker will hope to impress against one of his many former clubs on Sunday. Anelka is the ultimate predator, and will hope to capitalise on a distinct lack of pace at the heart of the visitor’s defence.
Liverpool - Steven Gerrard
After captaining his country on Wednesday against Gerrard will have to be at his best if Liverpool are going to take anything from this testing away trip. In the absence of Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, Gerrard will have to provide most of his side’s attacking impetus against the club that he came so close top signing him a couple of seasons ago.
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