3 Reasons Why Chelsea Will Beat Liverpool This Sunday

This Sunday, fourth placed Liverpool will travel to London to take on third placed Chelsea, in what promises to be an enthralling encounter. Here’s a look at three reasons why Chelsea should be able to clinch the three points at Stamford Bridge.

1. Tactical Discipline

Jose Mourinho is one of the most tactically astute managers in the Premier League, and he will no doubt be looking for a disciplined performance from his Chelsea team, much like their performance against Arsenal midweek. They managed to stifle Arsenal’s creative players and bossed around in midfield thanks to their tough tackling and incessant pressing. Another similar battling display against an inexperienced Liverpool midfield could easily mean midfield supremacy, and with creative players like Mata, Hazard and Oscar in their ranks, things could be tough for Liverpool.

Mourinho has also instilled the discipline in his flair players to track back and support the fullbacks, and this may be crucial in stifling Liverpool in wider areas, and forcing the play into more crowded central areas. Denying space to the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez would negate much of Liverpool’s free-flowing football, and not allow Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling to make the late runs behind the defense.

2. Liverpool’s over-reliance on Suarez

The Uruguayan has been in sublime form this season, and has singlehandedly won games for his team. However, as City demonstrated midweek, if you are able to shackle Suarez, most of Liverpool’s creative spark in the final third is lost. While there were a few moments of brilliance from the South American, he had a quiet game by his lofty standards.

If Mourinho can get to mark him tightly and rile him up with a few early tackles, we might see the devil inside the Uruguayan coming out, something which has been in check this season. With the biting incident still fresh in memory, there might be added pressure on him to perform, and the extra “attention” on the pitch might just do the trick for Chelsea.

Give the sitters that Liverpool have missed in the last couple of weeks, it seems unlikely that Liverpool will be unable to conjure up a goal if the Uruguayan is not involved as they lack a credible alternative goal-threat.

3. Chelsea’s counter-attacking abilities

In Hazard, Oscar and Schurle, Chelsea have some very quick players who are very dangerous on the counter-attack. With Mourinho preferring to set-up his teams to be lethal on the break, this Chelsea side is no different.

Liverpool’s possession based football has meant that they have pushed up in numbers in the opposition half, and have at times been caught on the counter- City’s second goal was a typical example. The lack of pace in midfield means that the defenders can easily be left on their own in case of a swift counter. Liverpool have also been sloppy at the back at times this season, and they made a few stray passes in the game against Manchester City. Any such mistakes against Chelsea will prove costly.