Chelsea vs Liverpool Preview

Article first published on as Chelsea vs Liverpool Preview on Technorati.com
Liverpool Head to Chelsea for a Vital Must Win Match against Former Striker Fernando Torres's new Club.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 3, 2011

CFC.tv Torres First Training Session for Blues

It could just as easily be title Liverpool vs Fernando Torres at the Bridge. Chelsea's stadium, Stamford Bridge. Ironically titled the same as the famous battle between the Saxons and the Norwegians. This quite literally could become a second Battle of Stamford Bridge as the North Western Reds from the banks of the river Mersey travel to London to face their most recently loved, now loathed, Fernando Torres and his Chelsea Blues.

Carlo Ancelloti stated that Torres could indeed play a part in the match, and Torres himself stated that he wanted to score against his former side, "If I have the chance to play, I will do my best for Chelsea and hopefully I can score."

PA Photos

Reds fans were devastated at the way their former No. 9 left the club after having apparently declared his intent to stay and fulfill his contract and fight for the team. Fans burned his jersey and defaced his likeness outside of Melwood and across various parts of the city when the news officially broke that their beloved forward was heading south to Bluer pastures.

With Torres's £50 Million departure sealed, his old No. 9 was quickly filled with Liverpool's acquisition of Andy Carroll from Newcastle United for £35 Million, making him the most expensive Englishman to date and the 8th most expensive transfer of all time while Torres's move was the 4th. Luis Suarez also completed his £23 Million pound move earlier that day. For all intensive purposes it looked like Liverpool had done the more shrewd bit of business bringing in youth and talent for a chronically injured forward much like Michael Owen when after he departed.

LFC.tv Carroll and Suarez Debut

That Belief was further forwarded in the minds of many as last night Liverpool beat Stoke City 2-0 with Suarez scoring 16 minutes into his home debut. The exact amount of time it took Torres to score. Only it was against Chelsea ironically that Torres scored his first goal. In fact Torres made it a habit to pillage the Blues for goals scoring 7 against them in the 8 games he faced them.

With the drama back lighting this match it couldn't get more exciting. Liverpool are fresh off three straight clean sheet victories on the Bounce. Kenny Dalglish is proving more tactically adept than ever with his display at stoke and we could see a similar line-up on Sunday at the Bridge to give the Liverpool back line the size or Skrtel and Kyrgiakos, and possible the quality of Jaime Carragher to hold back the surge of Torres, and either Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka.

The Blues defeated Sixth Place Sunderland on Tuesday 2-4 in the Stadium of Light, and the weekend before drew 1-1 with Everton at Goodison, and beat Bolton 0-4 at the Reebok. It will be an attack minded game I have to believe.

Liverpool defeated the Blues 2-0 at Anfield earlier in the season still under Roy Hodgson, and that being said you can expect a more well inspired side under Kenny Dalglish. Luis Suarez will possibly get his first nod in the Starting 11, and the Reds have a fully fit squad for Kenny to pick from, aside from Andy Carroll whom is expected out a few more weeks with a thigh strain.

Chelsea were boosted against Sunderland on Tuesday with the return of Frank Lampard to the midfield as he scored a penalty in their victory. Alex possibly could make his return to the first team if he is ready but will probably feature as a sub. Yossi Benayoun and Yuri Zhirkov are still sidelined with injuries

Possible Line-ups

Chelsea FC: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard; Kalou, Drogba, Torres.

Liverpool FC: Reina; Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Lucas, Gerrard, Meireles, Johnson; Kuyt, Suarez.

 Prediction: Chelsea 2 - Liverpool 3; Reds take it in Dalglish Inspiration.