Chelsea vs. Liverpool - CL quarterfinal discussion thread

They meet again. Too tricky to call, though based on recent form you'd have to go with Liverpool. Drogba/Carvalho/Gerrard/Torres fitness could be key to deciding this tie.

Do we need this thread? we already have about 3 Liverpool Vs Chelsea threads..

It will be Liverpool.

So how many times have you meet in the CL over the last 5 years.

Makes a change its not a semi final though

Drogpard FC will lose unless we see some of that famed Hiddink luck.

Uefa confirm that the 2nd leg will be on April 14.

Liverpool are very slight favourites for me but the retun of Essien may be key for Chelsea. He seems to have really had a positive effect since his return - truly a world class player.

I hope this year it'll be a more open game. Benitez seems to have released the reigns a bit recently and Hiddink isn't exactly a negative manager so all set for potentially the best Chelsea-Liverpool tie yet (that's not saying much, I'll admit)

I hope we do go for it, if at least for 30 minutes or so in the first leg. I don't think this Chelsea team can withstand sustained pressure as much as they could under mourinho. Hopefully our victories over them will knock their confidence a bit. I'm sure Benitez will send the team out looking for that early home goal to try to knock Chelsea off balance.

But any advantage we may have is canceled out by them having the 2nd leg at home. I still think we would have gone through last season relatively comfortably without Riise's intervention. Can't see something like that happening again (touch wood).

The annual CL tie is there again

I knew this would happen again, 5 times in a row aint luck! Warm balls

I wanted a Manu-Pool tie!!!!!!

Essien + Drogs + 2nd Leg at home, the tie is in Chelsea's favour. The only thing Pool can do is get Torres to go at Terry early & often to build up a big lead at Anfield.

And much like you see at a World Cup or Euros, a team that plays brilliantly in the early going, and makes everyone stand up and notice like Liverpool did with their thrashing of Madrid, usually doesn't win the whole thing. (See Holland 2008, Argentina 2006).

ill go for chelsea

HIDDINK+essien+ballack+2nd game at home is too much for pool

What i fear is the following;

*Complacency - Under Hiddink Chelsea are rejuvenated, particularly because of certain key personnel returning in recent weeks, in addition to this Benitez signing a new contract + the Hiddink factor.

However, i do feel we can get *at them*. They are shy on the wings, so we can push our full backs forward, and with Benitez's enthusiasm for the progressive game, we can look to dominate possession, and with that possesion the key will be doing something with it... and to be perfectly honest with Gerrard,Torres and Alonso fit, the more these guys have of the ball the better for us.

At home Agger for me is very important to add impoteteous in possession and allow Masch / Alonso to push forward, in the return fixture, Skrtle will be imperative to absorb Chelsea's likely attack - in addition to this, Hyppia would IMO be required in both games, so Carra at right back to do his job for the team, lets face it... what wing play do they have that can really exploit his lack of pace without any wingers?

Benitez can win this game through thought process and tactics, will he? well hes not let us down much so far...

Chelsea do have two very good fullbacks in Bosingwa and Cole, so the latter can definitely get at Carragher.

kas wrote:Chelsea do have two very good fullbacks in Bosingwa and Cole, so the latter can definitely get at Carragher.

Kuyt...

Blow for Chelsea as Bosingwa may miss Champions League clash at Liverpool

Last updated at 11:42 AM on 01st April 2009

Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa could miss next week's Champions League clash against Liverpool at Anfield.

Bosingwa injured his left leg while playing for Portugal against Sweden last Saturday and was allowed to return to Stamford Bridge to be assessed by the club’s medical
team.

He had a scan yesterday and the club don’t know whether the right back will be able to play against Newcastle on Saturday or at Anfield four days later.
Deco should return after he came through two games with Portugal unscathed following a hamstring problem.

Ferreira

Ferreira's out for the season...Belletti or Ivanovic will play there.

Expected Liverpool team to play Chelsea at Anfield

-----------------------------Reina----------------------------------------

---Arbeloa-------Carragher-------Agger------------Aurellio-----------

---------------------Lucas----------Alonso-------------------------------

------Kuyt------------------Gerrard----------------Riera----------------

-----------------------------Torres---------------------------------------

Benayoun and Babel on the bench to come on if needs be.

Agger over Skrtl?

Surely Masch will be over Bolivia by then as well?

Mascherano not back?

He's suspended.

kas wrote:Agger over Skrtl?

Skrtel*

Luis why should Skrtel be dropped in a such a crucial game when he has been outstanding for most of this season? Then there's the fact Agger has been injured and hasn't played for most of the season let alone in the last few months. To put him in such a match is farcile for many reasons.

I love Agger as a player and what he offers but seriously some 'pool fans need to get a grip when it comes to him and him being a sure 1st team starter. Let the guy earn his place. Skrtel has barely put a foot wrong since his first match for the club back last January.

Ade wrote:

kas wrote:Agger over Skrtl?

Skrtel*

Luis why should Skrtel be dropped in a such a crucial game when he has been outstanding for most of this season? Then there's the fact Agger has been injured and hasn't played for most of the season let alone in the last few months. To put him in such a match is farcile for many reasons.

I love Agger as a player and what he offers but seriously some 'pool fans need to get a grip when it comes to him and him being a sure 1st team starter. Let the guy earn his place. Skrtel has barely put a foot wrong since his first match for the club back last January.

Not doubting Skrtel for a minute Ade. Just think Skrtel's been playing a lot of football lately, Rafa does like to rotate when he can and he's said in an interview recently that Agger is so valuable particularly in these sorts of games at home against a very good Chelsea side where if it is 0-0 he has the ability to bring the ball forward and try an effort or set someone else up.

Luis wrote:

Ade wrote:

kas wrote:Agger over Skrtl?

Skrtel*

Luis why should Skrtel be dropped in a such a crucial game when he has been outstanding for most of this season? Then there's the fact Agger has been injured and hasn't played for most of the season let alone in the last few months. To put him in such a match is farcile for many reasons.

I love Agger as a player and what he offers but seriously some 'pool fans need to get a grip when it comes to him and him being a sure 1st team starter. Let the guy earn his place. Skrtel has barely put a foot wrong since his first match for the club back last January.

Not doubting Skrtel for a minute Ade. Just think Skrtel's been playing a lot of football lately, Rafa does like to rotate when he can and he's said in an interview recently that Agger is so valuable particularly in these sorts of games at home against a very good Chelsea side where if it is 0-0 he has the ability to bring the ball forward and try an effort or set someone else up.

Sorry if I came off a bit angry there, just hate reading and listening to 'pool fans this season going on about how Agger should be an automatic starter always when fit has been utterly repeitive and ridiculous in my view. As for the points I made above.

In reply to your comments, we have Blackburn at home next weekend. Agger I have no problem playing then. Not Chelsea my friend. I just cannot imagine Rafa starting him after being out for so long and in such a cruch game. Where we must win what with being at home. Skrtel had a rest yesterday, didn't really have to do fuck all

Like I said, Blackburn if anything is a game we I have no problem with Agger starting to give Skrtel a rest.

Agree with the rest of your team, though a ? over Aurelio.

Was he just rested yesterday? I'm unsure of that.

Chelsea fans, what's the latest on Drogba?

Think Drogba will be fine. Not sure about Bosingwa, but if he is fit, the team for the 1st leg pretty much picks itself imo.

-----------------Cech
Bosingwa--Carvalho--Terry--A Cole
-----------------Mikel
------------Essien--Ballack
---------------Lampard
-----------Drogba--Anelka

I'll be amazed if we don't play that narrow, powerful midfield at Anfield.

prepare to be amazed......

Chelsea are hopeful striker Didier Drogba will be fit to face Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.


The Ivorian missed Saturday's 2-0 win at Newcastle with an ankle injury but completed a training session on Monday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7977013.stm



Bad news for Pool, especially Martin Squirtle, who will be having nightmares I'm sure.