Liverpool, England (SportsNetwork.com) – Liverpool will be hoping to exact a
bit of revenge on Chelsea when the two sides meet at Anfield in Premier League
action on Saturday.
Chelsea claimed a 2-0 victory in the corresponding fixture last season to
effectively end Liverpool’s chance at the title.
The defeat was highlighted by an ill-timed slip from captain Steven Gerrard
just before halftime, which allowed Demba Ba to break the deadlock for the
visiting Blues.
Ba was one of the many to depart Chelsea this summer, paving the way for Diego
Costa and Cesc Fabregas to make the switch to the London club.
The moves have paid early dividends as Chelsea enters the weekend atop the
table with 26 points and as the only remaining club in the top flight without
a league defeat.
By contrast, Liverpool’s form has been inconsistent, leaving the seventh-place
Reds with a virtual must-win match on home soil if they harbor any hope of
getting back into the title race this term.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers cited last season’s telling loss to Chelsea
as well as the club’s sputtering form at Anfield as two primary sources of
motivation heading into Saturday’s massive clash.
“It’s obviously a big game,” Rodgers said in his pre-match press conference.
“In the game last season, we didn’t get the result. We performed well for 70
minutes, but we just couldn’t get the breakthrough. We’ll have learned from
that. This is a new challenge and obviously it will be a very difficult game
for us.
“They are unbeaten and the strongest team at the moment in the league – that’s
why they’re top. But for us playing at Anfield, regardless of the opponent, we
have every confidence that we can go and get a good result.”
Manchester City, widely-viewed as Chelsea’s biggest threat to the title, will
be eager to find its groove following a host of poor displays in recent weeks.
The Citizens followed a 2-1 loss at West Ham United with a 1-0 victory over
10-man Manchester United last weekend, though the reigning Premier League
champions nearly succumbed to a late push from the Red Devils. City then
suffered a disappointing 2-1 home loss to CSKA Moscow in Champions League
action, creating a sense of desperation around the Etihad.
Fortunately, City will travel to Loftus Road to face a QPR side that sits
second from bottom in the table ahead of Saturday’s match.
Manchester United will return to action on Saturday to host a Crystal Palace
side that is winless in its last four league outings while second-place
Southampton will hope to stay rolling with a positive result against Leicester
City at St. Mary’s.
Also on Saturday, West Ham will attempt to maintain its position inside the
top-five with a positive result against Aston Villa at Upton Park and Burnley
will go for its first win back in the top flight when it welcomes Hull City to
Turf Moor.
Arsenal will travel to the Liberty Stadium on Sunday to take on a Swansea City
side that has quietly climbed to sixth place in the table while Everton will
hope to extend its league unbeaten run to four games with a positive result at
Sunderland.
Also on Sunday, Tottenham will host Stoke City at White Hart Lane while
Newcastle United will head to the Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion.
