2:45pm. Available live in the US on espn2.
Chelsea leads 1-0 on aggregate.
Champions League Group Stage results:
Liverpool: 2-3 Galatasaray (a); 2-0 PSV (h); 3-0 Bordeaux (h); 1-0 Bordeaux (a); 3-2 Gala (h); 0-0 PSV (a)
Chelsea: 2-0 Levski (h); 0-1 Bremen (a); 2-2 Barca (a); 1-0 Barca (h); 3-1 Levski (a); 2-0 Bremen (h)
1st Knockout Round results:
Liverpool: 0-1 Barca (h); 2-1 Barca (a)
Chelsea: 2-1 Porto (h); 1-1 Porto (a)
Quarterfinal results:
Liverpool: 1-0 PSV (h); 3-0 PSV (a)
Chelsea: 2-1 Valencia (a); 1-1 Valencia (h)
Goal scorers (Europe):
Liverpool: Crouch 7; Garcia, Gerrard 3; Bellamy, Fowler, Riise 2; Gonzalez 1
Chelsea: Drogba 6; Shevchenko 3; Ballack, Essien 2; Joe Cole, Lampard, Robben, Wright-Phillips 1
European History:
Liverpool: European Cup/Champions League 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005; UEFA Cup 1973, 1976, 2001; UEFA Super Cup 1977, 2001, 2005
Chelsea: Cup Winners’ Cup 1971, 1998; UEFA Super Cup 1998
Referee: Mejuto González (SPA)
You may remember him from the Champions League Final in 2005. More ammunition for Mourinho's moans, but mind you, I still think Gattuso should have been sent off.
My guess of a lineup:
Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Riise
Kuyt Crouch
Keep it bloody simple.
Half the fun of these things is trying to out-think the opposition, Rafa and myself. Not this time. Straight forward, and probably the best eleven.
Pennant and Crouch are two of the most in-form players. Kuyt also on in an advanced role, because it’s essential to have two strikers on the pitch in search of the goal(s).
Gerrard in the center. I would have thought him paired with Alonso, as that pairing has the most experience in games like this and in my opinion, they are the two best midfielders at the club, but Xabi played on Saturday and hasn’t looked up to snuff for a couple of games now. Hopefully, Mascherano will be there to sit in the holding role, allowing Gerrard free license in his favored position.
Riise has a knack for scoring big goals from the wing, and I don’t really like the idea of him in defense, with Chelsea always likely to be on the counter attack and Riise even more susceptible to players (especially Drogba) running at him when Liverpool’s stretched than Agger was last Wednesday.
Finnan hopefully back in defense, with Arbeloa on the other side, as had been desired last time. Carra, Agger, and Reina write themselves.
For Chelsea, Essien is back from suspension, but both Carvalho and Ballack will miss out due to injury.
Let’s twat these bastards.
2 comments :
Is it too early before kickoff to claim that I can't sleep, that I'm not eating properly, that I've done too little real work and too much reading up on this match? Or am I already too late to claim all this?
Sheva is out as well for Chelski. Good for us. And don't worry steel, I'm in the same boat with ya mate! Ready for this game more than anyone knows
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