Strongest Chelsea Lineup To Face Liverpool – Lampard And Mikel In Pivot

Strongest Chelsea lineup to face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge

Jose Mourinho’s side take on Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on a chilly Sunday night in an aim of finish the year on a high and preserve their home record under the Portuguese Boss. Mourinho has wished for some injury to grip Suarez so that the Uruguayan might not be able to face the Blues, a certain mind game which is perhaps expected of the Special One. Chelsea haven’t quite hit their strides in the current campaign so far, yet they sit third on the table, just a couple of points behind league leaders Arsenal as my time of writing.

Mourinho will be up against his favourite pupil in Brendan Rodgers, the latter who was the Chelsea reserve team coach when the Portuguese was sacked in his first spell in London. Can Chelsea keep up their record of matching their title aspirations and hand Liverpool their second consecutive defeats in as many games? We here at Soccersouls provide you Chelsea’s best possible line up to face the Reds from Merseyside.

Goalkeeping and Defence

Peter Cech remains calm and composed under the Chelsea goal but will need to be wary of Liverpool’s attacking prowess who can cut aside any defence in the Premier League. Irrespective of that though, Mourinho will expect his boys to keep up their defensive discipline against the Reds and get a clean sheet if possible.

The central defensive partnership of David Luiz and John Terry/Gary Cahill will make it very hard for Liverpool to break through. The home side have to take good care of Suarez in particular and Coutinho as well to enhance their chances of winning and establishing their lead ahead of their fierce rivals at the top of the table. Expect Branislav Ivanovic to play in the right back slot with Cesar Azpilicueta in left back.

Midfield

The triumvirate of Mata, Oscar and Hazard will be expected to play in front of the double pivot of Lampard and Mikel in the middle of the park. Given Liverpool’s lack of squad depth, Mikel will be expected to hold the midfield together and protect the back four, keeping an eye on Suarez. Lampard will certainly try to barge forward making his forays and getting into great passing positions behind the Mazacar trio.

Strike Force

Problem with Chelsea strikers is they literally play like a false 9 dropping deep, linking up with the creative midfielders but forgetting their main job that is to put the ball in the net. Anyway, Fernando Torres should start against his former side and prove a point or two on what they might have been missing out if he was still the player he was at Merseyside.

Predicted lineup

Cech

Ivanovic   Luiz  Terry  Azpilicueta

Mikel  Lampard

Mata                                     Hazard

Oscar

Torres