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Liverpool logo
Premier League
Nov 8, 2014 at 12.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-2

Can (9')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Cahill (14'), Costa (67')

Preview: Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield, where the Blues won last season in a fatal blow to the Reds' title hopes.

It was against Chelsea at Anfield in April when the Premier League title slipped out of Liverpool's grasp.

The Reds perhaps fell a Steven Gerrard stumble short of a first domestic championship in 24 years as their captain cost them a 2-0 defeat to the Blues in April.

Goals from Demba Ba and Willian ended Liverpool's 11-game winning streak and, although the Merseysiders went on to finish above Chelsea in the table, it was Manchester City who were celebrating at the end of the season.

Former Reds striker John Toshack claimed this week that those memories are a "dark cloud" hanging over the club, and that the hangover from their failure to clinch the title is impacting on Liverpool's campaign.

Brendan Rodgers's side have certainly not had an enjoyable start to the season. They are seventh in the league, having won only four top-flight games from 10, and are already 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.

They are also in a perilous position in the Champions League, and while Liverpool's much-changed lineup went down fighting against Real Madrid in midweek, Chelsea stayed top of their own group.

A 1-1 draw with Maribor in Slovenia may not have met Jose Mourinho's expectations, but the Blues remain in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages and have yet to lose any competitive game this term.

The nature of Chelsea's European outing meant that Mourinho only got to rest Diego Costa's troublesome hamstring for 45 minutes in midweek, but the nine-goal striker should return to the starting XI this weekend.

Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill are other well-refreshed regulars in line for recalls, while Cesar Azpilicueta may be preferred to Filipe Luis at left-back after completing his three-match suspension.

To tighten up his midfield, Mourinho may sacrifice Willian or Oscar for their fit-again Brazilian compatriot Ramires, who came off the bench against Maribor and in the 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers.

Rodgers could restore all seven of those players that he was criticised for resting against Madrid - Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli, Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson.

His omission from the latest England squad suggests that Daniel Sturridge will not play until after the international break, while Mamadou Sakho, Jose Enrique, Suso and John Flanagan are all also sidelined.

Liverpool, who lost 1-0 to Newcastle United in their previous top-flight outing, have won just one of their last five games in all competition and have only beaten Chelsea once in six meetings.

Recent form

Liverpool: LLWDWD

Chelsea: DWWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Gerrard, Allen, Coutinho; Sterling, Balotelli

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas, Ramires; Oscar, Hazard; Costa

Sports Mole says: 1-2


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Rio Ferdinand of QPR and Nikica Jelevic of Hull City during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Hull City at Loftus Road on August 16, 2014
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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