Topic: Chelsea v Liverpool: League Cup QF - Tues 29th Nov - 19.45

[artanis]

I know Kenny wants the Carling Cup but I hope Lucas and Suarez get a break. Keep Suarez on the bench and get him in if we need to chase a result and put Lucas on only if we cannot get a foothold in the game.

[Gifted Right Foot]

if we win this will it be the third time in a row we have won at their ground?  has any team ever beat them 3 times in a row at their ground?  just curious....

[Vidocq]

Ecclestone, Spearing, Aurelio,Coates,Carra will start

[RedMichelFerri]

My team :

               Reina
Kelly - Carragher - Coates - Aurelio
      Adam - Spearing
Henderson - Maxi - Bellamy
              Carroll

I think Lucas needs a rest after the kind of shift he put in yesterday.

[Scouserpool]

Do you guys think Sterling will get the chance from the bench?

[ShibbyLFC]

Do you guys think Sterling will get the chance from the bench?

it depends on how many players we're comfortable with playing on 2 days rest, but i'd start him. rested front 4 of Maxi, Bellamy, Sterling, and Carroll. idk if Bellamy will be ready though. if not, then it's more of a reason for Sterling to be involved.

[Malaysian Kopite]

Do you guys think Sterling will get the chance from the bench?

No chance.

[The G in Gerrard]

I'm surprised this ain't on tv

[Jeffe]

Reina

   Kelly   Carra    Coates     Enrique

        Spearing   Lucas       

          Kuyt          Maxi               Bellamy

              Carroll           

Carra - Coates looks a bit hazardous though.

I'm surprised this ain't on tv

It is in Finland!

[Chivasino]

I think Suarez will start this one along with Bellamy and Maxi. Lucas and Spearing in the middle.

Next game isn't until Monday so plenty of time to recover.

[Hunter Thompson]

Relax lads. Sterling is only a child. Kenny won't be playing any children I wouldn't imagine.

[Chivasino]

I'm surprised this ain't on tv

Arsenal V City on the same night mate. Difficult to chose between the two and our game on vs Chelsea last week was on Sky.

[kaz1983]

I'm surprised this ain't on tv

Move to Australia, it is here.

[MiserableP15]

Ecclestone, Spearing, Aurelio,Coates,Carra will start

I'd be stunned.
I'm certain there will be many changes from yesterday though but still a solid team. Maxi to be the match winner yet again!

[stevied]

I think Suarez will start this one along with Bellamy and Maxi. Lucas and Spearing in the middle.

Next game isn't until Monday so plenty of time to recover.

This, 3 games in 8 days the CL teams have to do this every week, start with the strongest possible side, tired do me a favour

[kriss]

if we win this will it be the third time in a row we have won at their ground?  has any team ever beat them 3 times in a row at their ground?  just curious....

Yes, WE did ... 1972-73 (2-1), 1973-74 (1-0)  and 1974-75 (3-0). I expect there are a few others over time.

[killer-heels]

We should play our strongest available side.

[stevied]

Just seen Terry is suspended which means Alex and Luiz i would think, keep the ball fizzing round them two with Luis up top and there will be foul after foul

[Finn Solomon]

Carroll has to start, Suarez looks completely knackered.

[jediwarrior]

I read a interview with AVB and he reckons he will play more of the Kids against us tomorrow. I won't be surprise as they are away to Newcastle on Saturday following that with a do or die match in the Champions League which if he lost that he could will be out.

We get a good rest between tomorrow match and the Fulham game so hopefully we don't rest to many of the team. Would play Carroll up front with Maxi and if he's alright to play Bellamy on the wings.

[Vinay]

Chelsea to win 2-1.

[Scouserpool]

Suarez needs a rest. Carroll and Bellamy up front!

[Fazakerley Red]

JUST TAKE IT SERIOUS kenny , chelsea are there for the taking they are in a state at the moment and liverpool should not give them any sort of boost that might help them , it will help liverpool and it will be a great massive forward stride if liverpool won the league cup and put chelsea on  more of a downer which will certainly help in liverpool quest for the top 4

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

This, 3 games in 8 days the CL teams have to do this every week, start with the strongest possible side, tired do me a favour

Someone on here posted some stats about performance in 3 games-in-a-week scenarios (can;t remember which thread), it does go down regardless of whether they have time AFTER for recovery - that makes fuck all difference if they're still tired from the first game. However, they drop off much worse for the third game than the second so we should still have an advantage. Personally, I'd mix it up as much as possible but there's some key people that need to play - our second choice midfield isn't all that IMO.

[LondonRedMan]

Do you guys think Sterling will get the chance from the bench?

Don't think this is the right time. This is a HUGE game, perhaps the biggest of the season thusfar. We can't take risks. I'd like us to start Suarez or at least have him on the bench just in case. AC and Bellamy would certainly be a good front pair.

Hope Chelsea field a weakened team

[LondonRedMan]

Chelsea to win 2-1.

Ugh, who do you support?

[Vinay]

Ugh, who do you support?

Liverpool, of course.

[LondonRedMan]

I read a interview with AVB and he reckons he will play more of the Kids against us tomorrow. I won't be surprise as they are away to Newcastle on Saturday following that with a do or die match in the Champions League which if he lost that he could will be out.

We get a good rest between tomorrow match and the Fulham game so hopefully we don't rest to many of the team. Would play Carroll up front with Maxi and if he's alright to play Bellamy on the wings.

Even more reason to play our big guns, ensure a semifinal place

[MiserableP15]

The problem with playing our first team (or something similar to what we saw yesterday) is that they will be tired, regardless of what people think.

Given that this is a cup game that could go into extra time and could be another physically demanding affair, it makes absolute sense to freshen up the midfield and attack whilst leaving some of our big guns on the bench. If we start too many of them you run the risk of quite literally running out of puff before the game's over. I think Kenny will know that he has a thing over Chelsea at the moment and can freshen things up whilst leaving a trump card or two on the bench.

You can definitely see Carroll, Maxi, Bellamy (if sound of mind), Kelly and Spearing come in. That's five changes for starters. Throw Carra and Aurelio (if fit) into that and you've virtually got a full change team.

I'd guess that the only people we'll definitely see start tomorrow that started yesterday are Lucas, Hendo, Pepe and Skrtel. And I'd still fancy us.

[Kopite B205]

Chelsea to win 2-1.

Thanks for your contribution to this thread.

[.Mike]

They won't be playing their first team either. I'd expect Hilario, Paulo Ferreira and Lukaku to play.

[-Q-]

They won't be playing their first team either. I'd expect Hilario, Paulo Ferreira and Lukaku to play.

Not sure about that.  They really don't want to lose yet another game.  They may not be playing a full strength side, but I would expect Lampard and Torres to start for instance.

[Grobbelrevell]

This is yet another absolutely massive game. Play it down all you like but (along arguably with the FA Cup), it's the only realistic chance of silverware we have this season and in my opinion it's vital that we feel what it's like to lift a trophy again. That winning mentality needs bringing back - and the belief that comes with it.

I'd like to see a strong line-up again for this, with the above in mind. I do understand though, that the likes of Suarez and Lucas in particular have played a lot of football (including the Copa America in the summer) so could do with a rest at some point. There are also a number of players who could argue a case for inclusion in the league, let alone the Carling Cup.

All things considered I would go for the following:

Reina
Kelly  Carra  Coates  Aurelio*
Lucas  Spearing
Bellamy**  Maxi  Downing
Carroll

Subs:
Doni
Johnson
Wilson
Henderson
Adam
Eccleston (having been training with the first team, I think he'll make the bench)
Suarez

* If fit. If not then Enrique in his place.
** If available. If not then Henderson in his place.

Also, is Stevie likely to be ready for this? If there's any doubt then i'd leave him out and give him another week to maybe put him in the frame for Fulham. If he's available though, a spot on the bench would be nice to see.

[Strummer77]

Yes, WE did ... 1972-73 (2-1), 1973-74 (1-0)  and 1974-75 (3-0). I expect there are a few others over time.

Ah but that was the old Chelsea. Has anyone beat this Abramovich fuelled version like that?

[koolkamal]

Do you guys think Sterling will get the chance from the bench?

He won't and he shouldn't.

[Grobbelrevell]

the only people we'll definitely see start tomorrow that started yesterday are Lucas, Hendo, Pepe and Skrtel.

I think Coates will start, personally.

I could see the other three though, especially if Bellamy is not ready (in the case of Henderson).

The lineup that Chelsea put out will be interesting as well. Can they afford to field a weakened team for this, on the back of a relatively poor run of results?

[NeilR]

This is yet another absolutely massive game. Play it down all you like but (along arguably with the FA Cup), it's the only realistic chance of silverware we have this season and in my opinion it's vital that we feel what it's like to lift a trophy again. That winning mentality needs bringing back - and the belief that comes with it.

I'd like to see a strong line-up again for this, with the above in mind. I do understand though, that the likes of Suarez and Lucas in particular have played a lot of football (including the Copa America in the summer) so could do with a rest at some point. There are also a number of players who could argue a case for inclusion in the league, let alone the Carling Cup.

All things considered I would go for the following:

Reina
Kelly  Carra  Coates  Aurelio*
Lucas  Spearing
Bellamy**  Maxi  Downing
Carroll

Subs:
Doni
Johnson
Wilson
Henderson
Adam
Eccleston (having been training with the first team, I think he'll make the bench)
Suarez

* If fit. If not then Enrique in his place.
** If available. If not then Henderson in his place.

Also, is Stevie likely to be ready for this? If there's any doubt then i'd leave him out and give him another week to maybe put him in the frame for Fulham. If he's available though, a spot on the bench would be nice to see.

id go with that but Henderson starting instead of Lucas

[Jeffe]

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic (Bosingwa 76), D Luiz, Terry (c), Cole; Ramires, Romeu, Meireles (Lampard 69); Sturridge, Drogba (Torres 76), Mata.
Unused subs Turnbull, Mikel, Malouda, Kalou.

That was their lineup vs Wolves. I would expect Cech, Mikel, Malouda& Torres to start and at least Mata and Sturridge to be rested. Terry injured and Meireles cup-tied(?). What's up with Lukaku, though? According to physio room he's not injured anymore but why wasn't he even on the bench in the last game?

LC should be the least of their priorities and we're going to make real push for this, so I'm feeling really confident ahead of the game. And in addition to a strong line-up (Reina, Kelly, Maxi, Spearing, Carroll, probably Lucas, maybe Bellamy, Enrique, Kuyt) we'll probably have Suarez on the bench as a super-sub so I would say we're favorites to win.

Also, our next game after this is on Monday while Chelsea's next game (Newcastle away, big, big game for them) is on Sat. AVB will have to consider the Newcastle game as their priority so that's another reason why he's not going to play their best possible lineup.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

AVB said that he'll give the youngsters a chance tomorrow and seeing their schedule, I'm guessing he views the matches against Newcastle and Valencia as more important than tomorrow's game.

IMO, think we should take advantage of this and start with players who have experience as this game means more to us than to them.

Reina
Kelly Carra Coates Aurelio (if he's fit, if not then Flanno)
Spearing Henderson
Downing Bellamy(if he can't play then Suarez) Maxi
Carroll

Bench: Doni, Wilson, Johnson, Enrique, Lucas, Suarez, Adam

[scott]

Suarez won't start, I hope we have him on the bench though, he's a match winner.