Author Topic: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool Match Commentary - Second Half (Read 11722 times)

SMD · « **on:** November 20, 2011, 03:46:05 pm »

Good afternoon, everyone.

After a long absence, we welcome back...me.

Okay, maybe not but for the long time in a while, we see Maxi in the line up for an intriguing clash ahead of the Carling Cup tie. Full line ups below:

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Mata, Drogba, Malouda.
Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Torres, Meireles, Bosingwa, Sturridge, Anelka.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Kuyt, Lucas, Adam, Maxi, Bellamy, Suarez.
Subs: Doni, Carroll, Henderson, Downing, Spearing, Carragher, Kelly.
Referee: Lee Probert

Half time stats:

Possession

Chelsea 47% Liverpool 53%

Attempts on target
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 2

Attempts off target
Chelsea 5 Liverpool 1

Corners
Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2

Fouls
Chelsea 7 Liverpool 6

SMD · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2011, 03:49:39 pm »

El Campeador should be joining me soon but for now, what does everyone think about that line up?

Personally I'd hope to see us lining up like this:

Reina
Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique
Kuyt, Lucas, Adam, Maxi, Suarez
Bellamy

With Kuyt, Maxi and Suarez moving behind Bellamy on the shoulder of the last man. Adam needs a big performance against Ramires and Mikel. I'd expect Lampard to be at the head of that triangle with Drogba looking to link up with him. That particular pairing has been effective against us down the years though the surprising omission of Carragher gives us extra pace and strength with what we will lack in his organisation.

El Campeador · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2011, 03:55:40 pm »

Chelsea lineup is even more interesting:

TEAM
1. Petr Cech
2. Branislav Ivanovic
4. David Luiz
26. John Terry
3. Ashley Cole
7. Ramires
12. Mikel
8. Frank Lampard
10. Juan Mata
11. Didier Drogba
15. Florent Malouda

SUBS
22. Ross Turnbull (GK)
6. Oriol Romeu
9. Fernando Torres
16. Raul Meireles
17. Jose Bosingwa
23. Daniel Sturridge
39. Nicolas Anelka

Dodgy Luiz at the back, no Meireles or Torres.

SMD · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2011, 03:57:43 pm »

For the first time in a long while, we have a first team and a bench that looks comfortable and competitive. Of course the onus is on the players to meet our expectations. Looks like the average age of our first team has jumped up but we're not looking old.
With regards to Chelsea, the movement of Lampard with Drogba, as well as Mata's ability on the ball are the two dangers I think we'll do well to manage.

El Campeador · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2011, 03:59:33 pm »

Alright we're almost ready to kick off.

SMD · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:00:13 pm »

An ad for Football Manager 2012. Or alternatively the LFC forum.

SMD · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:01:00 pm »

And we kick off! For those of you who aren't watching, Liverpool are kicking from right to left.

SMD · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:01:34 pm »

Chelsea move forward, we clear and eventually it comes back in but out across the touchline for a throw to us.

El Campeador · « **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:02:01 pm »

Maxi + Enrique line up on our left to start.

SMD · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:02:06 pm »

Chelsea have it back, passing it around their defence. Suarez looks to be at the head of our attack, with Bellamy out left.

El Campeador · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:02:26 pm »

Suarez up top by himself in acres of green.

SMD · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:02:43 pm »

Quote from: SMD on November 20, 2011, 04:02:06 pm

Chelsea have it back, passing it around their defence. Suarez looks to be at the head of our attack, with Bellamy out left.

Okay, it seems Bellamy actually is roaming behind Suarez. Interesting.

SMD · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:03:27 pm »

Maxi runs onto a Suarez through ball and is muscled off by Terry. Appeal for a foul but it was good defending by the Chelsea man.

SMD · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:04:19 pm »

3:00 Chelsea are in possession but mainly in their half of the field. Redmen are swarming onto them as soon as they approach the half way line.

SMD · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:05:53 pm »

Chelsea have the ball yet again in their half, frustrated by the lack of space ahead of them they launch it forward harmless for Pepe to pick up. Ball comes forward and Ivanovic commits a foul. It's going to be one of those games, I think.

SMD · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:06:49 pm »

Free kick is taken and after some head tennis, it's back to the men in Red, nice interplay yet again with Suarez and Maxi sees the Argentine move forward with the ball and yet again brushed off. 6 minutes gone.

SMD · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:08:22 pm »

Travelling Kop sing Suarez' song loud and proud, Chelsea come forward and Mata finds space on the left, crossing it into no one in particular. 7 minutes 15 and possession is back with us, our centre backs around ten yards from the box for those curious.

SMD · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:09:08 pm »

Meaty challenge from Lucas who manages to take out Ramires and Adam as well as getting the ball. Six of one, half a dozen of the other to be honest.

El Campeador · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:09:30 pm »

Looking good so far. Bit cagey, but lots of tough tackles - Lucas and Adam crushed Ramires.

SMD · « **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:10:18 pm »

Skrtel doesn't clear it very well and Chelsea come forward. This time we deal with it properly and Suarez comes forward, nutmegging a Chelsea midfielder before being blocked off from advancing on Cech.

Villas Boas looks like he's trying to find the WC at a French campsite.

El Campeador · « **Reply #20 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:10:33 pm »

Argentinian close control by Maxi

What you think so far SMD?

SMD · « **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:11:35 pm »

Just to clarify that our lads are wearing black armbands in the memory of young Luca Jones, the son of our reserve keeper Brad Jones who sadly passed away yesterday from a long battle with leukemia.

El Campeador · « **Reply #22 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:11:48 pm »

Ouch - goal-line clearance. Desperation defending by Liverpool, who cannot clear the lines.

SMD · « **Reply #23 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:12:48 pm »

As I type that, Chelsea with two good chances, Malouda goes to cross in deep and Mata tries to volley it across the face of goal. Cleared but not too far and Chelsea come forward again and it's blasted over the bar. The home side are looking to make it count as we threaten them on the break.

Azi · « **Reply #24 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:13:21 pm »

both defences seem lost every attack is looking dangerous for both sides

SMD · « **Reply #25 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:13:35 pm »

Quote from: El Campeador on November 20, 2011, 04:10:33 pm

Argentinian close control by Maxi

What you think so far SMD?

I think the extra experience on the pitch versus last time out shows. We're patient and probing and as if to prove my point, we go forward and Chelsea are forced to clear for a corner off Luis' toes.

SMD · « **Reply #26 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:14:44 pm »

And our customary poor corner. Ngh.

We come back on the attack with Johnson, who is practically trying to dribble it from the right bye-line into the goal but it's deflected and Cech catches it.

El Campeador · « **Reply #27 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:15:21 pm »

Fucking internet is down for me.

Suarez is a very strong player for his size. Took two guys to force him off of the ball.

Horrible corner by Adam.

13' gone, 0-0. Bellamy and Johnson opening up Chelsea's left flank, chalk on the touchline sort of stuff.

SMD · « **Reply #28 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:16:21 pm »

Maxi Rodriguez comes infield and looks to switch it to the right flank to no one in particular. Both sides have been a bit sloppy but without being too disasterous. David Luiz brings the ball forward, runs out of space and we again clear poorly only for it to come back at us skimming off the turf. Match has been characterised by poor contact with the ball.

Azi · « **Reply #29 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:16:42 pm »

15 mins throw in to chelsea some nice one twos between ivancoich and malouda but nothing comes of it liverpool win the ball back and try the long ball to suarez but Luiz clears it

SMD · « **Reply #30 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:17:11 pm »

Luiz clashes a bit with our Dirk but nothing more than a bit of handbags. Referee gives them a stern look.

Azi · « **Reply #31 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:17:57 pm »

16 mins no one can keep the ball for too long its a bit scrappy we seem intent on playing the ball long trying to get behind the defence but again its cleared by terry and away come chelsea on the attack with mata

SMD · « **Reply #32 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:18:02 pm »

We do look like we're inventive but unfortunately lacking finesse.

Fortunately you can say the same for Chelsea.

SMD · « **Reply #33 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:19:00 pm »

Suarez is off and away but alas is off side and the play is brought back. He was one on one with the keeper there.

Azi · « **Reply #34 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:19:25 pm »

17 mins suarez runs on to a through ball and looks to be one on one with Cech only for the linesman to signal offside looked tight

SMD · « **Reply #35 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:20:09 pm »

I don't quite believe it myself but there's some neat wingplay out on the right from us. Again, we lose it though before anything can develop.

Azi · « **Reply #36 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:20:24 pm »

19 mins john terrys ma she loves the scouse cock getting reverberated around the bridge bit scrappy apart from that

SMD · « **Reply #37 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:21:20 pm »

Drogba's brought down by Agger and Lucas, giving Chelsea a free kick just right of centre of the goal about 22 yards out.

Azi · « **Reply #38 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:21:21 pm »

20 mins drog wins a fk for chelsea after ramming his way between lucas and agger outmanoeuvred for me but fk given edge of our box

El Campeador · « **Reply #39 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:21:40 pm »

"Obi Mikel reminds me of Tracy Chapman" - the Missus.

"Wonder if he has a fast car?" - me mate Paul.

"You're both racists" - me.