FORMER Liverpool manager Roy Evans is backing Rafael Benitez’s side to end Chelsea’s long unbeaten home record this weekend – even though he also feels the Reds have still to hit top gear this season.
Sunday’s clash at Stamford Bridge pits the top two teams in the Premier League against each other, with both Chelsea and Liverpool having taken 20 points from eight games.
Liverpool have been in fine form both domestically and in Europe recently, and extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches with Wednesday night’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid.
When it comes to unbeaten streaks though, Chelsea’s takes some beating, with the Blues not having a lost a league match at home in 86 fixtures.
Despite that, Bootle-born Evans, who managed Liverpool from 1994 to 1998 and is now an assistant to John Toshack with Wales, believes his old club can be the ones to end that run this weekend, even if he feels they are not yet firing an all cylinders.
“Somebody’s got to do it sometime and although Liverpool have not been playing at their very best they’ve been getting some really good results,” Evans said.
“What they have shown this year, and perhaps not in previous years, is a real spirit.
“If they go behind they’ve come back and won games, for example recently against Wigan and Man City, and they’ve also shown they can beat the top teams by beating Man United, which over the last few years they haven’t done.
“Chelsea, down at Stamford Bridge, is a difficult game, they are playing some great stuff but I just feel that if Liverpool go down there and play at their very best they can come away with a result.”
He added: “I think it will be 2-1 to Liverpool, although I am slightly biased!”
“It will be difficult game and Chelsea, even with their injuries, have looked a very good side so I don’t think it will be a walkover, but I think Liverpool can come away with a positive result.”
Sunday’s clash at Stamford Bridge pits the top two teams in the Premier League against each other, with both Chelsea and Liverpool having taken 20 points from eight games.
Liverpool have been in fine form both domestically and in Europe recently, and extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches with Wednesday night’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid.
When it comes to unbeaten streaks though, Chelsea’s takes some beating, with the Blues not having a lost a league match at home in 86 fixtures.
Despite that, Bootle-born Evans, who managed Liverpool from 1994 to 1998 and is now an assistant to John Toshack with Wales, believes his old club can be the ones to end that run this weekend, even if he feels they are not yet firing an all cylinders.
“Somebody’s got to do it sometime and although Liverpool have not been playing at their very best they’ve been getting some really good results,” Evans said.
“What they have shown this year, and perhaps not in previous years, is a real spirit.
“If they go behind they’ve come back and won games, for example recently against Wigan and Man City, and they’ve also shown they can beat the top teams by beating Man United, which over the last few years they haven’t done.
“Chelsea, down at Stamford Bridge, is a difficult game, they are playing some great stuff but I just feel that if Liverpool go down there and play at their very best they can come away with a result.”
He added: “I think it will be 2-1 to Liverpool, although I am slightly biased!”
“It will be difficult game and Chelsea, even with their injuries, have looked a very good side so I don’t think it will be a walkover, but I think Liverpool can come away with a positive result.”
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