Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
Andy Pakes previews this Sunday afternoon clash in the first edition of Game of the Week for 2012
Dave Hughes tells us about his sporting hero, Wes Morgan
The second instalment of our ‘Game of the Week’ preview feature comes from Stamford Bridge this Sunday. Chelsea take on Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League in a game that could have significant repercussions for both teams.
Form
Chelsea have made an indifferent start to 2011/12 campaign. They beat bottom side Blackburn Rovers two weeks ago but have suffered humiliation in the form of a defeat to newly promoted London rivals QPR and being overwhelmed by Arsenal in a 5-3 home defeat at the end of October. Defeat against Liverpool could see them fall out of the top four into fifth place, which is not what new manager Andre Villas-Boas wants with notoriously impatient Russian owner Roman Abramovich breathing down his neck.
Liverpool have made a similarly inconsistent start to their season. While they lie on an eight-game unbeaten run, they have laboured to draws against lowly Sunderland and newly promoted sides Swansea and Norwich City, as well as suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Tottenham at the beginning of the season. While a win could bring them level on points with the fifth-placed North London side, a defeat at Stamford Bridge could see them slide down to seventh place.
Team news
Chelsea have frontmen Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge available after both shook off knocks during the week. They will continue to be without battling midfielder Michael Essien who is a long-term casualty, not expected back until the new year at the earliest.
Liverpool welcome back Jamie Carragher who returns after a calf injury and should have Luis Suarez fit despite the Uruguayan picking up a minor foot injury in an international game against Chile earlier in the week.
Player Watch
Chelsea – Fernando Torres
The Spanish frontman has yet to show Chelsea fans the goalscoring form that he was able to delight Liverpool fans with before his big-money move to London. Torres has yet to find the net against his previous club and with only league goals all season, he will desperately want to add to his tally on Sunday.
Liverpool – Luis Suarez
Caught up in the racism storm that has plagued the footballing world in the last few weeks, Suarez has now been charged by the FA for alleged racist comments to Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra. Suarez has hit the net four times in the league this season but will need to increase his goalscoring rate if Liverpool are to achieve success this season. What affect his off-field troubles will have on his game remains to be seen.
Key Stat
Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles scored the three goals for Liverpool that came against Chelsea last season – both will be lining up for the Blues at Stamford Bridge tomorrow having made the move from Merseyside.
Predictions
Yorker Sport writer Sam Holloway will be eager to improve on a brave but ultimately foolish prediction that lowly Everton would go to the team with the best defensive record in the league and churn out a result against Newcastle two weeks ago. Currently residing at the bottom of our fantastic Yorker Sport Prediction League table with -10, he will be hoping for a more accurate call this time around.
Chelsea have had some poor results recently and have looked very shaky at the back but Liverpool have struggled to put the ball in the net against far less challenging teams. With home advantage, I am going for a 2-1 Chelsea win.
James Tompkinson says... 2-0 Liverpool
Aimee Howarth says... 2-1 Liverpool
Sam Holloway says... 1-1
Steve Puddicombe says... 3-0 Chelsea
Alex Goss says... 1-0 Chelsea
You must log in to submit a comment.
