Blog by dedlfc
We made one change from the team that beat Villa bringing back our club captain Steven Gerrard in place of one of our goal scorers Borini.
Both sides started out well organised and pressed well without the ball in the opening ten minutes. There was little in the way of chances, but we seemed to start finding some joy down Chelsea's right side, the best attempt on goal from us before the first goal of the game was a sweetly struck, dipping Steven Gerrard shot that Courtois pushed one-handed over the bar.
Chelsea were also interested in exploring the right side of our defence as the inexperience of Emre Can and Lazar Marković defensively was examined.
The build up to the penalty decision began with a darting run from Fabregas down the left to the byline that Emre Can should have snuffed out and was punished for failing to do so. He chased the pass to the feet of Hazard and his clumsy challenge left referee Martin Atkinson with little choice but to award a penalty for the away side.
Hazard made no mistake as Simon Mignolet committed to the right and the Belgian settled for the left to give Chelsea a vital away goal.
We weren't second best for the rest of the half and remained organised unlike some of the panicky performances from earlier in the season. The impression for the majority of the first half was that Chelsea had a few gears to go up and that we were going at them full pelt without penetrating enough to be a goal threat.
Half-time thoughts: The game was highly competitive and balanced. We responded well and remained more organised than our fans have been accustomed to. The 3-4-2-1 formation seemed like a good fit for this game, but we needed to get the wing backs into the game as we were trying too many intricate passes in the centre of the pitch.
In the early stages of the second half we continued to attack the Kop pursuing an equaliser with great intent without much cutting edge. We controlled the game too such an extent that we had 80 per cent possession at one stage but football is about goals and that is what the Kop was baying for.
Interceptions at key moments, sound positioning, and good tackles from Chelsea showed how defensively competent the visitors are even with the Kop baying for a goal.
The equaliser finally came about through the individual brilliance of Raheem Sterling which was richly deserved and it was some goal. The youngster dropped deep from his striking spot into the No 10 position and ran at Chelsea's defence before shooting left-footed from about 15 yards into the corner of the net. Courtois had no answer and the youngster had electrified the Kop.
Our intensity dropped off for about five minutes after the goal as Chelsea attacked our right side of defence again through Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
We proceeded to regain control and pressed for a winner. Gerrard hit the post on 67 minutes after excellent work down the left from Philippe Coutinho and the Brazilian made Courtois work a minute later.
Chelsea had a couple of promising counter attack situations in the final twenty minutes that didn't lead to any clear chances or any dangerous moments which was a credit to our defensive unit.
Adam Lallana's introduction for Steven Gerrard in the second half was the right move as we were dominant, in control of the game, and didn't give the Premier League leaders anything to capitalise on. The greater energy and freshness helped continue the onslaught.
Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana tested Courtois from distance as we pushed for a winning goal. We defended well with Can regaining his composure after a tricky evening up against Hazard alongside the excellent Martin Škrtel and Mamadou Sakho.
Full-time thoughts: We showed great character in probably our best performance of the season against a quality side. Courtois was exceptionally busy, while Simon Mignolet had a relatively comfortable evening. We go into the second leg with everything to play for. Chelsea have the away goal, but we now have something that could be just as valuable: belief!
Man of the match - Lucas Leiva - despite the speculation linking him with a move away from the club he was outstanding proving an equal match for Matic and Mikel, he has been the catalyst to our fine form of late and deserves to be given credit from time to time for his rich vein of form.
Great credit to both Gerrard and Lallana for making major impacts on the game after both being injured.
Very pleased with the team performance just felt that we deserved the win which would have forced Chelsea to open up more for us to counter attack them with Sterling's pace.
Liverpool (3-4-3): Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Markovic, Lucas, Henderson, Moreno; Gerrard Sterling, Coutinho.
Subs: Lallana on for Gerrard 70
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Filipe Luis; Matic, Mikel; Hazard, Fabregas, Willian; Costa.
Subs: Azpilicueta on for Willian 88
Referee: M Atkinson.
Attendance: 44,573
What a performance! Disappointing not to have won jt but so nice to walk out of the boozer with a spring in my step, whistling lfc songs! Brilliant from 1-11 tonight but coutihno was head and shoulders above anyone on the park. Think this team needs to be built round him, Chelsea couldn't get near him all night and some of the one touch interplay between him and sterling was brilliant. Just add to Sturridge to that mix and we should be flying.
ReplyDeleteCan was clumsy for the goal but thought half time analysis was harsh and his ability on the ball is a real bonus, as is sakho's massively under-rated passing from the back. Lucas was a monster and totally dominated the rightly vaunted matic. Think there is some real promise in the squad and in players like markovic and can we seem to have got two very talented young players with bags of character which bodes well. Chelsea average 16 shots a game and they had one tonight, from a soft penalty...
Miraculously, having personally virtually written season off, we could possibly still be in for an enjoyable finale....
Some players like Lucas and coutihno need resting on sat and we should go the bridge with same attitude and really try and take the game to them....
Yep, was getting frustrated in the first half with our failure to get behind the full-backs.
DeleteBrilliant in the second-half, exceptional movement from Coutinho and Sterling, committing the Chelsea backline. Some of the Sterling’s hold-up play was stunning, balls fired in to his chest and feet were sticking like glue. The chest control for Lallana to fire in his shot was stunning. The goal was majestic - pace, power and precision.
Markovic redoubled his efforts helping Can in the second-half which was good to and I can’t wait to see Can when he eventually plays in the middle. One scud missile of a pass along the ground in between to Chelsea defenders was out of the masters handbook.
Lucas was excellent marshalling in front of the back three and if only Stevie had taken his chance… I can barely remember a shot on goal from them.
The penalty was very similar to Arsenal v City one which on BBC they said it was not but on the radio 5, they said it was. Like you said Luke, very soft.
DeleteIt was a game which we should have won. It would be harder down King's Road. Hopefully, DS will be back and this will give their defenders something to think.
After 80 minutes, I had to ask a pal which team was playing in RED…Wow the pace was breathtaking
DeleteWas reading an article in which it was described as Blitzkrieg football.
DeleteIt was telling that MoM went to Chelsea’s keeper as we deserved a win especially on our second half performance. Personally thought we were playing against the ref as well as Chelsea last night to say the penalty was soft is an understatement as Can did everything apart from leave the stadium to avoid contact with Hazard.
DeleteDefensively we are looking a lot more secure which seems to have given our attacking players greater confidence to go at teams, would like to see BR go for it in the second leg but suspect he may tighten up the midfield and hope to catch them on the break.
Without Lovren but with Can and Lucas.
DeleteBrilliant performance man for man, with another couple of exceptional performances mainly conducted by Lucas Lazarus. After the Palace game last season I doubted he'd last long in a Liverpool shirt. I know Victor has been pondering about Lucas' long term future at LFC.
DeleteI won't pick out other individuals because I think it would be unfair but to restrict a team of Chelsea's quality to just one chance on goal deserves a lot of credit to our defensive play, and I don't just mean the back four.
I'm assuming we're playing this weekend in the FA cup - if so we're going to have to rest one or two of our key players in order to get the same kind of energetic performance in the 2nd leg.
The intensity was back pressing the backline, Obi-One and Matic. Caffè Latte (Costa) hardly got a kick. In the return fixture I guess he’ll have to decide on whether to play the same side or bring in Manquillo to help Can down the right side with Hazard sure to me more of a threat.
DeleteI think Lucas is back to where he was prior to picking up the initial injury at Stamford Bridge. No coincidence that the only match he hasn’t started in the last 14 was the Man United game. All of a sudden Skrtel who has been horrendous for the most part of his Liverpool career looks like a defender and I think it’s quite simply because he has protection in front of him with Henderson also moving back to the middle.
I’ve been pretty vocal in my criticism of him over the years, but right now he is the most important player in the team – there is nobody else who has the stamina or the patience to play that role without vacating the position. BR’s fallen on this formation and if you look through his career as a whole he has very rarely used 4-4-2. Joe Allen doesn’t cut the mustard for me not dynamic or strong enough to hold down that spot or a midfield position further forward. Even if he’s looking to bring in someone (which we should be) he should be looking to tie down Lucas. He’s winning more interceptions, tackles and headers than any other Liverpool player.
Can see him growing further if the captaincy/vice –captaincy landed at his door (I know, but Jordan Henderson will be Jordan Henderson with or without the armband… point of discussion?), but heard that he feels disrespected by Brendan, especially openly wanted rid of him at the start of the season and treated shoddily earlier in the season which is why he is open to leaving in this window
I think we more or less got a settle team now. I still think that we need a keeper.
DeleteRodgers gives the impression he’s happier dealing with the younger players rather than the established pro’s who may take more convincing of his philosophies plus he may feel that players bought in under earlier regimes may not be his strongest supporters when results go against him. I can understand why he may have thought Lucas was surplus to requirements at the beginning of the season but results with him in the team speak for themselves, he managed to get Sktel back onside, now even more importantly he needs to do so again with Lucas.
DeleteAgainst the vice-captaincy being taken away from Henderson to placate Lucas, as the former has rehabilitated himself and his game under Rodgers and deserves the recognition, also long-term he’s the better choice to wear the armband.
We need a keeper, defensive mid and a striker in the Summer.
DeleteWould we get more from Lucas if he took on the captaincy? I thought Lucas Lazarus was dead in the water a few months ago but so glad he's proved me wrong. I agree we do look a lot more solid. One thing about Lucas too is that at the moment he's not error prone and is actually putting some good passes together. And he seems to get forward occasionally.
DeleteBut should he be captain? Did anyone see the Mirror today? Opta the Oracle Douglas fell short and didn't produce the breaking news about Henderson inviting Latte down the tunnel. I didn't know he had it him. I'd probably stick with him for that reason alone.
I look forward to seeing Barry's team sheet for the FA Cup game v Bolton. David and I were debating in the Vera Cruz cafe on which players need a rest before the Chelsea game. Interesting.
On the one hand You’d like to rest the whole squad, on the other hand we’re playing Championship opposition in Bolton and I’d really like to stay in the FA Cup a bit longer. On the presumption that we’ll field exactly the same starting 11 against Chelsea on Tuesday night. I’d go for a formation switch to 4-3-3 and play the following against Bolton –
DeleteMigs
Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Enrique
Henderson Rossiter Lallana
Borini Balotelli Ibe
No way Jose (sorry BR)
DeleteI would say to Lucas whenever Henderson is not captain he will be captain.
DeleteKarl, I don’t think giving Lucas the captaincy would somehow raise his game if anything the added pressure might mean he tries to do more rather than just play to his strengths.
DeleteFor the FA Cup we need to stick to what’s been working and that’s a back 3, whoever comes in will need to fit the system.
Some of the selection Barry's gone for is similar to what we mentioned earlier. The likes of Enrique, Manquillo, Lovren fingers crossed) and Borini should come back in but I agree we should play the same system. This would probably have been a good game for Kolo to come in.
DeleteI agree that there's probably no need for Lucas to be knighted.
I read a fascinating interview with Lucas a few days ago in which he said that it took him the best part of two years to get over his cruciate injury and because of that and what he had to go through any plaudits he receives because he is playing well is ‘water off a ducks back’. Sounds to me like would not be overawed if his position was upgraded in the team, but also sounds like a player who now knows his full worth particularly as he is probably at his peak and why he is open to a move.
DeleteAs for the formation as I said Manquillo would be the only possible change I’d make for Chelsea, but it instead of a change it might just be case of let them worry about us.
Baz re Bolton wouldn’t surprise me to see Johnson and Allen because they’ve trained week, but definitely won't be Jordon Ibe as he's cup tied.
Just reading in the Echo that Allen and Glenda will be back for Bolton so I’d change formation to –
DeleteMigs
Glenda Skrtel Loverman
Ibe Rossiter Allen Lallana Enrique
Borini
Ive only got 10 men on the pitch!!! Stick Ballo on just for Giggles
DeleteMigs
Glenda Skrtel Loverman
Ibe Rossiter Allen Lallana Enrique
Balotelli
Borini
Rodgers is on the Echo saying that we’ll challenge for the Title next year – Nice one Brendo. Thanks. For. That!
Hear hear and I guess I should leave it till next year to be a a Billionaire
DeleteI'd probably tuck Ibe behind the front man.
DeleteVic says he’s cup tied which is a pity.
DeleteI'll take it the Liverpool way - one game at a time. But vision is for a top 4 finish this season. Then we can invest properly in the transfer market to ensure that we consolidate that position.
DeleteHaving seen Lucas' celebration after lamberts goal at villa park I feel he should be fairly easy to get back on board...think offering him vice captain once Gerrard leaves in summer should do it. Think hendo has real captaincy qualities, always on team mates backs but also encouraging and seems popular and respected within the squad. Squaring up to costa in tunnel after Tuesdays match probably help to that end..,
DeleteAgree on need for all change on sat and I'd go
Ming
Manquillo toure, skrtel lovren Enrique
allen rossiter
Lallana
Balotelli Lambert
Lets now sort out the contract of Sterling as this seems to continue to drag on without being concluded. Getting him to commit to another three years will be a major boost in this transfer window.
ReplyDeleteBrendan Rodgers, June 2014: "We're in a position now where we're going straight into the group stage of the Champions League - and we're going into the Premier League next season with an expectation and a belief that we can win the league. We need players who have those qualities - that belief, players who are willing to improve and who are hungry to improve themselves. If we can get a number of signings with that profile, then we can go on and build on last season."
DeleteBrendan Rodgers, January 2015: "The reality was, with so many changes, we were not going to win the league this season. The year was about targeting the top four and the cups."
But fear not folks because apparently next year we’ll be challenging for the league again (until we’re not).
A bit harsh, if he had said in June ’04 we were just going to target a top four place we would have criticised him as lacking ambition.
DeleteIn Jan’15 is all about managing dwindling expectation!!
Everybody move the goal posts.
DeleteYeah but pride comes before a fall, probably best just to zip it now Brendo. Anyway we’ve got 8 and a half days left of this exciting January window, does anybody think we’ll see another body through the door? Apparently Palermo are thinking of riding to the rescue and loaning Ballosmelly for the rest of the season but I suppose you could replace him with a cardboard cut out and you’d probably see better movement once the wind got up!
DeleteFootball is a great marketing machine. The job of the club, usually through the manager, is to keep the fans hope alive, or perhaps more sinister is for people to keep their wallets open. Certainly helps to keep the tills ticking over.
DeleteRealistically, we don't have a cat in hells chance of winning the league next season unless we bring in some world class players - qualifying for the champions league will help in that regard.
Well I guess his statement sets the standard. He's certain to get some spending money in the summer so I don't suppose he'll still be in a job if he's languishing in 8th place come next January.
DeleteAlso, good to hear loose ends been tied up on Philippe Coutinho's contract with still 3 years to go on his current one. I hear Inter fans are grumbling about how they could have let go such a talent... began thinking about the loss of Suso last night and then I remembered a player of similar silkiness due to return at the end of the season... Joao Teixeira.
This guy looks good, Teixeira produced a stunning strike for Brighton & Hove Albion, looks fast and not scared of going /f/wood and taking on players.. lets bring him in...
DeleteHe bagged two very good goals.
DeleteI think that BR would have completed any deals by now but then again this is BR (British Rail) better late than never.
DeleteYEVEN KONOPLYANKA (aka - Cut and Paste). I sat up til midnight hoping that one would go through. Never say never until Ian Ayre is stirring his Horlicks.
DeleteHeard the game on the radio, but looks like it we came out first best in all areas. Raheem Sterling being the Whizz kid and denied efforts from SG, and Coutinho , Henderson, all pulled in together.
ReplyDeleteStill much work to do to pull this one off at Stamford Bridge, but we still in this, and can do this.
DELOITTE FOOTBALL MONEY LEAGUE - Liverpool 9th richest club in Europe.
ReplyDelete