I feel the game will be won or lost in our midfield. Without a doubt their biggest threat comes from Hazard, Oscar and Mata operating just in front of our back 4, in the area Lucas would usually occupy. Torres can still finish (30% conversion rate still this season) but if we can deny him the ammo, we've got a chance.
For me Rodgers is having a mare with the way he's operating our midfield. He's playing Gerrard as a deep lying play-maker along side Joe Allen, pushing Sahin into the advanced role. I think he needs to push Gerrard forward, and let Sahin do the stuff along side Allen. Lucas is tailor-made for this kind of game, and we'll miss him tomorrow more than ever. Defensively we've been much better over the last 5 games, and while i expect Chelsea to score, i don't think we'll ship the 3-4-5 people are suggesting.
Do i think we'll score? I think we probably will to be fair. Suarez is in arguably the best form we've ever seen in a Liverpool shirt, and young Suso and Sterling (almost certain to start) will give Chelsea's moron like defenders a lot to think about. just look at what Ashley Young did to Ivanovic a few weeks ago as an example. David Luiz is known to be very erratic, and pressing him high up the pitch into making these decisions will really help us. I think we'll need a massive slice of luck to get something from the game because they are a very good side (pains me to say it) but they're by no means invincible.
I don't agree with people saying we should play 3-5-2, because that'll literally just invite pressure onto ourselves. I'm not a massive Andy Carroll fan, but the havoc he wreaked when he came on in the cup final last season would certainly be something to consider, Coates up front tomorrow then?
I'd take a point now, but if we can press their defense into mistakes, which is a very possible thing to do, and get bodies around Mata, Hazard and Oscar we'll do well. Mikel and Ramires while good players aren't really much to worry about. Easier said than done all this lot by the way.
If history has shown one thing, no matter how fucking shit we may be playing, how bad our form is, whoever our manager is, however we or they may sit in the table, we always seem to turn up for the big games. I never ever enjoy these fixtures, stomach turners for 90 minutes. I'd love to see us win, head says 1-2 Chelsea, heart says 2-1 to us.
One last thing i'll add. I'd be very tempted to start Downing ahead of Suso. Main reason being how Valencia played against cole a few weeks ago. Now i'm fully aware that Valencia is a far superior player to our Stewie, but they play in a similar way. Both direct, both have a good delivery. Suso will get backed up by Cole, and doesn't have the pace to beat him down the outside. I'd consider Downing for this one personally, as he'll also do more defensive work tracking Cole, given his experience. Had a good spell against Newcastle, putting a fantastic cross onto Shelvey's head, which should of been an assist. Can you really point the finger at Downing for having no assists with the quality of our finishing? Needs to be taken into account.
