Liverpool v Chelsea Team News and Prediction – Can the Reds secure the title at Anfield?
Manger quotes, player quotes, team news and prediction ahead of the Premier league clash between Liverpool and Chelsea.
What the managers are saying:
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers on Daniel Sturridge – We’ll give it another 24 hours. He’s working hard with the medical team. So we shall see. But if he’s not fit, we’ve coped before; we’ve managed before without a number of players. We’ll go into the game with confidence. We’ll assess that over the next 24 hours.”
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on playing a weakened side – “I know what I would do, but I’m not the club. I have to speak with the club. I would play with the players that are not going to play Wednesday.”
What the players are saying:
Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet – “Once the game starts, it’s all about the ball, your job and your role on the pitch. That’s the only thing you can think of. You don’t think about those other things anymore once the ball starts rolling.”
Chelsea keeper Mark Schwarzer – “I’m getting used to this whole thing of sitting out and being ready to play. It’s always a tough thing to do but I didn’t really have a chance to think about it, I just went out there and did my job. Everyone was up for it, as you’d expect, and we’ve got world-class players here. We knew that if we could match their determination, our quality would shine through. We didn’t create too many chances but I think we did a good job.”
Liverpool v Chelsea Team News
Daniel Sturridge will return for Liverpool however Jordan Henderson misses the second of his three game suspension. Victor Moses will be in the stands as he ineligible to play against his parent club.
Chelsea with one eye on their Champions League second leg with Atletico Madrid are poised to make wholesale changes with the injured John Terry, Petr Cech and the suspended Ramires definitely out. Mark Schwarzer or Hilario are vying for the goalkeeping jersey while John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard will start as they are suspended for the second leg with Atletico.
Prediction
Liverpool are certainly the form side in the league and the Reds will be hoping to secure their 12th straight win on Sunday. The club have looked nervy in their last two outings, back to back 3-2 wins over Manchester City and Norwich. Chelsea meanwhile have lost two of their last three away games and will head into the clash on the back of a shock 2-1 reversal at the hands of Sunderland last time out. However Jose Mourinho has a good record against the Reds winning six of his eight Premier League clashes with Liverpool. Liverpool to win.
