What: English Premier League
Who: Chelsea (4th; 44 points) vs Liverpool (7th; 35 points)
When: Sunday 6th February, 2011, at 16:00 UK time
Where: Stamford Bridge, London, England
Reinforcements Arrived
Never has a Chelsea-Liverpool clash been hyped so much in recent memory. While the battles between the two sides have developed into a derby in recent years, be it in domestic competition or the Champions League, the transfer of Fernando Torres from the Reds to the Blues for £50M adds a little extra spice to the occasion. As the saying goes, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Indeed, the English media branded the arrival of Fernando Torres and David Luiz from Liverpool and Benfica respectively, as Chelsea’s attempt towards reviving what has been a disastrous domestic campaign. While the effect of these signings remains to be seen, they have nonetheless been welcomed with open arms, as skipper John Terry recently highlighted: “To sign Torres and Luiz is a huge statement for the club. There is a buzz around the camp and it is great that we’re in the market again for two massive signings.”
While boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that catching Premier League leaders Manchester United might be too much to ask, Chelsea do have real hopes of Champions League glory and also need to guard against finishing outside the top three, which would cause a potentially tricky qualifier to take place in next season’s group stage.
A New Era
Conversely, Fernando Torres’ Anfield exit has been compensated for by the arrival of two top draw strikers in the form of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, joining from Newcastle and Ajax respectively. The latter particularly put on an excellent performance in his maiden game as a Reds player, scoring the second goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Stoke and displaying the flashes of brilliance that were much on show at last summer’s World Cup.
Indeed, the Uruguay superstar is fast growing into a Kop hero, something the Liverpool fans will need as they witnessed one of their most beloved superstars leave in such an unsavoury manner. The speed at which Suarez has settled in at his new club has been the subject of praise from superiors and team-mates alike, with manager Kenny Dalglish particularly not hiding his admiration for his new gem: “Suarez scored on his debut which is fantastic for him and great for the supporters and everyone. He’s not trained with the players yet because of the paperwork that had to be finished. He only got his work permit yesterday.”
Carroll might be unavailable through injury, but there is no doubt that splashing out in excess of the fee received for Torres has changed the atmosphere around the club. Players are buoyant and Liverpool have sent out a statement of their intent. Had Torres left Anfield without a replacement, then the squad could very quickly have fallen into a malaise. As it is, an unhappy player has been replaced by two hungry, potential gems, leaving the Reds full of confidence for this clash.
Recent form
Chelsea:
Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Chelsea
(24/01; Premier League)
Everton 1-1 Chelsea
(29/01; FA Cup)
Sunderland 2-4 Chelsea
(01/02; Premier League)
Liverpool:
Wolves 0-3 Liverpool
(22/01; Premier League)
Liverpool 1-0 Fulham
(26/01; Premier League)
Liverpool 2-0 Stoke City (02/02; Premier League)
Key absences
Chelsea: Yuri Zhirkov; Yossi Benayoun; Alex
Liverpool: Andy Carroll; Jay Spearing; Joe Cole (doubt); Christian Poulsen (doubt)
Players to watch
Chelsea – Fernando Torres: How ironic it is that Torres’ first match as a Chelsea player is against Liverpool themselves. After a slow season so far, the Spanish international is expected to find his feet quickly at his new home and prove to his new fan base just why Roman Abramovich paid such a hefty sum to attain his services. Having bagged the two goals as Liverpool saw off Chelsea 2-0 in this fixture earlier this season, Torres can now complete his own "personal" double.
Liverpool – Luis Suarez: The masses have a new hero, and his name is Luis Suarez. Not yet as renowned a name as Torres, the new Liverpool number 7 made his presence instantly felt with a cameo appearance, and goal, in his first game. Against Chelsea, the Uruguayan will have to show his full arsenal of flicks and tricks and seize the mantle the club’s lead striker, especially in the absence of Andy Carroll.
Match prediction
One of the most anticipated battles, this edition of Chelsea-Liverpool promises to be nothing short of spectacular. While the goals may not be as free-flowing as the fans want, tension will certainly be in the air given the events of the past week. Chelsea sense they could even climb back into the title race, while the Champions League remains possible. Either way, the Blues once again feel on the right track. At Liverpool, the club is surrounded by a positivity few would have believed could be present after Torres’ exit, but Kenny Dalglish has worked wonders in his new-old job. An exciting game, but both to cancel each other out. Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool.
