Strongest Liverpool Line-up To Face Chelsea – Raheem And Suarez Up Front

Two familiar foes Liverpool and Chelsea will meet yet again in the year ending blockbuster clash in the Premier League on a chilly Sunday night at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Both the teams will look to finish 2013 on a high as Brendan Rodgers’ led Liverpool make the trip to immediately recover from the 1-2 reversal against Manchester City at the Etihad in midweek. Jose Mourinho will still feel that his side needs to improve despite sitting third in the table, just a couple of points behind Arsenal as of Saturday evening, before the other matches kick off. It will be an emotional moment for Rodgers to vie up against Mourinho, who was his mentor at Chelsea while the current Reds Manager was the reserve team coach at Cobham.

With Mourinho labeling the clash of the titans as the showcase for the Premier League and the top of the table clash means this is certainly a six pointer which might be decisive for the Premier League title chasing credentials for both the teams. So can Liverpool plant another dagger in Chelsea’s hearts by handing Chelsea their first home loss under Mourinho? The Reds do have enough firepower but they need the certain frame of mind and the willpower to beat the Blues at their own den. This is how we here at Soccersouls feel Liverpool must line up to tactically outwit the home side on Sunday night.

Goalkeeping and Defence

Simon Mingolet’s butter fingers meant Alvaro Negredo could slot home the winner at the Etihad in midweek in a match the Reds might feel they had been hard done by the referring decisions. Talking of the Belgian shot-stopper, he needs to be focused of the intelligent movement s of Mata, Oscar and Hazard, who drift into the dangerous pockets behind the lone striker up front. Mingolet also needs to be wary of the physical presence of Chelsea’s aerial threat from set pieces.

If I were Brendan Rodgers I would shift to a blanket defending at the Bridge playing three centre backs in Sakho, Skrtel and Agger. Though Martin Skrtel looks busy these days shouldering over opponents, rather than keeping an eye on the ball, the Slovakian can ill afford to throw away the game in such tight encounters. Glen Johnson in the left back slot and Martin Kelly as the right wing back will shape up my base of the 3-5-2 formation.

Midfield

There is no doubt that is Liverpool want to get anything from the match they need to be a notch over their opponents in the centre of the park. The travelling Reds side need to take control in the middle of the pitch with Lucas and Henderson in the middle with Brazilian Phillipe Coutinho in a more advanced position. Joe Allen certainly needs to sit put of the Reds starting eleven if sanity prevails Rodgers’ mind. The key here of playing the 3-5-2 is to have a spare man at the back and crowd the Chelsea midfield and be quick on counter attacks.

Strike Force

Luis Suarez was more than isolated time and again by Manchester City in midweek thanks to Fernandinho marking him tightly and Vincent Kompany willing to get into challenges on the Uruguayan. This is where I feel Raheem Sterling with his pace can take advantage Chelsea’s rugged defence which can wilt under pressure and allow Suarez to be the player he is, taking on the best of defences at will.

Predicted Line-up

Mingolet

Sakho   Skrtel    Agger

Martin Kelly                                               Glen Johnson

Lucas          Henderson

Coutinho

Sterling           Suarez