It doesn't get bigger than this. It's Premier League super match Time as Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
The weekend game will be equally a test for both sides. Liverpool have recorded back to back wins with their new owners in place and the off-field management wrangles appear to be entirely behind them. The Merseysiders are beginning to rumble and that must satisfaction their home fans who can be startling to pack Anfield to the rafters to shout the Reds to victory against the Blues.
Obdurate
The game against Bolton in match week ten saw Roy Hodgson's charges win off a late Maxi Rodriguez goal. Liverpool edged out Bolton in an evenly matched game on a day when Kyrgiakos had a integrate of near misses. The Greek defender appeared to continue from where he had left off against Blackburn in match week nine, a game in which he put his side ahead three minutes into the second half.
Torres is gettng back to form and that's the best news for Hodgson who will be finding for a star turn from the Spaniard against an obdurate Chelsea back-line. Torres got the match winner in the former week against Blackburn and it was the Spanish International's brilliant back-heeled support that set up Rodriguez's goal that saw Liverpool bank all three points against bolton as well.
Reina had a brilliant day at the office against Bolton showing just why Hodgson had warned Sir Alex to keep his hands off the keeper, in Manchester United's quest for a young change for Van der Sar due to retire at the end of the season.
Chelsea have had a great start to their title defence, but can they support it? As the season wears, the fitness of their send line (Malouda, Drogba and Anelka, all past 30) will be crucial. Their defence built around the ageing Terry has stood up, thus far. Chelsea's frailty stood exposed in match week ten against Blackburn who dominated the first half of the game and landed the first blow in the 21st minute. Chelsea were relieved when Anelka fired their equaliser 18 minutes later and were distinctly lucky not to trail in the 81st puny when Jason Roberts missed from point blank range.
Chelsea's game against Manchester City was their first big test that Ancelotti's charges failed. In Chelsea's other big game this season, Arsenal were unlucky at Stamford Bridge; their forwards painted circles around the Chelsea defence and did everything but score. More than whether of those matches, Sunday's game at Anfield will test Chelsea's resolve.
If the Blues won, they would have dealt an early psychological blow to other title aspirants, chiefly Manchester United and Arsenal, both of whom are trailing the champions by five points already. But a loss at Anfield could open up the top of the table, while pushing Liverpool closer to a top six, or even a top four, finish.
Both teams are likely to go with unchanged elevens, with Lampard yet to return to activity for Chelsea, while Benayoun and Ramires are also yet to return to match fitness. For Liverpool, Kuyt remains out of action.
Liverpool used the following players in their beginning eleven against Bolton: Reina, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Lucas, Meireles, Maxi, Gerrard, Cole, Torres
The following were used as second half substitutes: Ngog, Poulsen
The following players comprised Chelsea's first eleven against Blackburn: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda
The following players came in as second half substitutes: Sturridge, Ferreira
Premier League Super Match Time: Liverpool Vs Chelsea
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