Friday, November 5, 2010

PREVIEW LIVERPOOLV CHELSEA

  • PREVIEW
Sunday, November 07 
Premier League
Anfield
 
Liverpool match preview
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Sunday, November 7
Liverpool v Chelsea
Anfield
 
Liverpool (Probable, 4-2-3-1): Reina; Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky; Meireles, Lucas; Maxi, Gerrard, Jovanovic; Torres.
Chelsea (Probable, 4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Mikel, Essien, Zhirkov; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.
Referee: Howard Webb. Matches: 7. R0 Y28.
Tale of the game
Usually this is a battle between teams vying for top spot. This time Chelsea, five points clear at the top of the Premier League, are 13 points better off than 13th placed Liverpool. Prior to this meeting last season, in October 2009, Chelsea were second, three points clear of third-placed Liverpool.
After five League games without a win, Liverpool have won their last two – for the first time in 12. A third straight win would be Liverpool’s best run since September 2009.
Chelsea have a 100 per cent record at home but, away from home, they have dropped five points from their five games – one defeat and one draw. But Chelsea have 11 goals away from home, the most in the Premier League, while the three conceded away is the joint fewest, with Everton.
Joe Cole, who left Stamford Bridge for Anfield in the summer, misses out against his former club with a hamstring problem while Dirk Kuyt (ankle) and Daniel Agger (calf) are also absent. And Sotirios Kyrgiakos was pulled out of training, ahead of the Europe League game against Napoli, as a precaution after complaining of a groin problem. Glen Johnson (thigh) and Ryan Babel (rib) remain doubtful.
Chelsea qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 4-1 win over Spartak Moscow and they did so with Michael Essien rested and John Terry an unused substitute. Florent Malouda was also absent. Yossi Benayoun (hamstring) remains a long-term absentee while Frank Lampard is still short of a return from a hernia problem.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2.
Stat of the game: Last season was the first time these teams met only in the League. In the previous five seasons they met 24 times in all competitions.
Betting tip: Chelsea on the march; an embarrassing 3-0 away victory is 18-1.

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