Chelsea v Liverpool FC. Sunday 10 May 4pm

[Conrad]

So, Utd play at Palace the day before.

if they drop points then we should be all over this. Chelsea won't have the same competitive edge as normal. The plastic flags will be out in force.

 

I'd like to see Allen and Lallana come in for this.

 

Mignolet

Johnson-Skertl-Sahko-Moreno

Allen-Gerrard

Lallana-Henderson-Coutinho

Sterling

Edited May 6, 2015 by Heighway 61 Revisited

[Dan]

Is Sakho fit? If he is I'd be tempted to go three at the back here.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Dan

[Nate.]

Plastic flags or not their record suggests a win here is very unlikely.

[Cam]

Play Cheyrou.

[Conrad]

Plastic flags or not their record suggests a win here is very unlikely.

 

It is very unlikely. But this is as good a time to go there as we could ask for.

[Will]

Double Agents

 

In advance of our fourth and final meeting of the season with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, YNWA looks at the careers of some of those few who have represented both blue and red.

 

The management

Brendan Rodgers was invited by manager José Mourinho to join Chelsea as Head Youth Coach in 2004, being promoted to Manager of the reserves two years later, staying in that role until taking over as Watford boss in November 2008. He arrived at Anfield from Swansea City in June 2012, so far guiding us to 81 wins in 152 matches.

 

Glen Driscoll arrived at Anfield as Head of Performance that same summer. He had joined Chelsea in 2003, working in a variety of roles including Head of Fitness, Head Physiotherapist and Head of Injury Prevention, moving on to work alongside Rodgers again at Swansea in 2011. Michael Beale is Under-21’s Manager at the Academy, having joined in September 2012 as Youth Development Lead Coach for the Under-15’s and Under-16’s. He had previously spent a decade at Chelsea, working full-time as Youth Development Officer and Under-14’s coach.

 

Rafael Benítez arrived from Valencia in June 2004 and took charge of the reds on 350 occasions, winning 194 times and leading us to the European Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield as well as three other finals. He left the club “by mutual consent” in June 2010. He was appointed Chelsea’s Interim Manager in November 2012, guiding them to the UEFA Europa League and Champions League qualification as they won 28 of his 48 games in charge before leaving the following May. His long-time staff accompanied him to the Bridge, including goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and trainer Paco de Miguel who also worked with him at Anfield.

 

Bolo Zenden joined Chelsea from Barcelona for £7.5m in August 2001, netting four times in 59 games before being loaned out to Middlesbrough, whom he later joined on a free transfer. He arrived at Anfield in July 2005 on another free and struck twice in 47 senior reds games, as injury hampered his career at Anfield. He helped us to claim the UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield, as well as reach the Champions League Final in his brief time with the reds. Bolo left the club in July 2007 to join Olympique de Marseille, and joined Chelsea as Assistant Manager under Benítez in November 2012.

 

Wing-half Bobby Campbell made only 25 reds appearances between 1959 and 1961, during our spell in the Second Division. He was later manager of Chelsea for three years, taking them to the Second Division title in 1989, and a fifth place finish in the top flight the following season. Christian Purslow was appointed as the reds’ Managing Director in June 2009 to replace Rick Parry. He stood down in October 2010 after the sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures. He joined Chelsea as Head of Global Commercial Activities last month.

 

Other current double agents

Daniel Sturridge signed from Chelsea for £12m in January. He has so far scored a stunning forty times in his first 67 reds games. He had joined the Blues from Manchester City for an initial £3.5m fee in July 2009, netting 24 times in 96 games, with only 49 being starts, and helping to claim the League and FA Cup double in his first season.

 

Fabio Borini signed from Roma for £10.4m in July 2012, netting just three times in 38 outings as well as suffering two serious injuries, spending last season on loan at Sunderland. He signed for Chelsea from Bologna in the summer of 2007, becoming the top scorer for the reserves before making his senior debut in September 2009. He failed to score in eight first-team outings before moving to Parma in the summer of 2011 after a successful loan spell with Swansea City.

 

Glen Johnson joined Chelsea for £6m from West Ham United in July 2003 to become the first signing of the Roman Abramovich era. He netted four goals in 71 outings, but joined Portsmouth on loan in August 2006 before signing on permanently a year later. He joined the reds from Pompey for a whopping £17.5m in June 2009, and has so far notched nine times in 199 reds outings, including the winner in our League meeting at Stamford Bridge in November 2011.

 

Other recent double agents

Fernando Torres moved to Chelsea for a British record transfer fee of £50m on deadline day in January 2011. He had bagged an impressive 81 goals in 142 reds games following his then club record £20.2m capture from Club Atlético de Madrid in July 2007. He netted 46 times in 171 games for his new outfit, helping them to win the UEFA Champions League in 2012 and UEFA Europa League a year later. He joined AC Milan on a two-year loan last August, making the move permanent in January before immediately returning to Spain to join his first love. Victor Moses left Stamford Bridge to join the reds on loan in September 2013, scoring on his reds bow at Swansea City, but only once more in 22 outings in total. He has so far netted ten times in 43 games for the Blues since moving from Wigan Athletic for £9m in August 2012, spending most of his time away from the Bridge.

 

Steve Clarke signed for Chelsea for £442,000 in February 1987 from St. Mirren. He notched ten times in 421 games, helping them to claim the FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and Full Members Cup. In 2005 he was voted into Chelsea’s centenary XI, occupying the right-back berth. After coaching under Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United, he returned to Stamford Bridge, becoming Assistant Manager under José Mourinho in 2004, leaving in the summer of 2008 after helping the Blues to claim two League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups. He was appointed as a first-team coach at Anfield by Kenny Dalglish in January 2011, moving on to take over as Head Coach at West Bromwich Albion in June 2012.

 

Joe Cole joined Chelsea from West Ham United for £6.6m in August 2003, bagging forty goals in 262 games in west London, helping them to claim three League titles, two FA Cups, League Cup and the FA Community Shield. He notched just five times in 42 reds outings after joining on a free transfer in July 2010, moving back to Upton Park for free in January 2013. Midfielder Raúl Meireles signed from his hometown club Porto for £11.5m in August 2010. He bagged five goals in 44 matches, with all these strikes coming in a six-game spell following Kenny Dalglish’s return as Manager. He moved to Stamford Bridge for £12m after just a year at Anfield, and netted six times in 48 outings before signing for Fenerbahçe SK for €10m in September 2012.

 

Yossi Benayoun signed from West Ham United for £5m in July 2007. He bagged 29 goals in 134 reds games, including hat-tricks against Beşiktaş JK, Havant & Waterlooville and Burnley. He was sold to Chelsea in July 2010 for a reported £5m, netting once in 24 outings as he suffered with injury as well as spending much of his time out on loan at Arsenal and then West Ham United. He moved on to Queens Park Rangers in December 2013.

 

Direct from the Bridge to L4

Midfielder Nigel Spackman was signed from Chelsea for £400,000 in February 1987, after 179 games and fourteen goals for the Blues, including being on the losing side nine months earlier as his soon-to-be boss King Kenny clinched the League title at Stamford Bridge. Among his finest appearances in a red shirt were his debut as a sub in the 1987 Littlewoods Cup Semi-final win over Southampton, and the 5-0 drubbing of Nottingham Forest in April 1988 as he helped us to clinch the title that season. He never scored for us in his 63 first-team games, although he did hit the post twice in our 1-0 defeat of Manchester United in September 1988. After moving on to Queens Park Rangers in February 1989, he later returned to Chelsea to play under Glenn Hoddle, making a further 88 appearances for the Blues.

 

Tony Hateley became our record transfer when he joined us from Chelsea in July 1967 for the then-princely sum of £96,000, having bagged six goals in 27 League games for the Blues after arriving from Notts County for £100,000 in October 1966. He got off to a flyer at Anfield, grabbing 27 goals in 52 appearances in his first season. Unfortunately, injuries took their toll, and he was sold to Coventry City only fifteen months after arriving at the club, and a total of 28 strikes in 56 outings. He was a fine header of the ball in his prime, as was his son, England international striker Mark.

 

Moving in the opposite direction

Outside-left Alf Hanson made 177 reds appearances before moving to Chelsea in July 1938 for £7,500. He had arrived at Anfield from Bootle in November 1931, and was also an England baseball international! He scored nine times in 45 League games for the Blues.

 

A popular wool

Joey Jones was a fans’ favourite in the 1970’s, playing exactly a hundred first-team games, mostly at left-back. He was immortalised in a famous banner at the European Cup Final in Rome in 1977, “Joey ate the frogs legs, made the Swiss roll, now he’s munching Gladbach”. After rejoining Wrexham in 1978, he later moved on to Chelsea, helping them to promotion back to the top division in 1984. He struck twice in 78 League games for the Blues.

 

A speedy reds career

David Speedie got off to a blistering start by scoring on his debut at Manchester United, and then grabbing a brace against Everton six days later. He came from Coventry City for £700,000 in January 1991, whom he had joined after a successful five years with Chelsea in the mid-1980’s, scoring 64 times in 205 games for the West London outfit, whom he had also played for in our 1986 title-decider. He nabbed six goals in fourteen reds games in all before moving to Blackburn Rovers after just seven months at Anfield. Keeper Alec Chamberlain had loan spells at both clubs during the 1990’s, without making the first team in either instance.

 

Other double agents

Nicolas Anelka moved to Stamford Bridge from Bolton Wanderers in January 2008 in a £15m deal, notching 59 times in 185 outings for the Blues, helping them to claim the League, two FA Cups and FA Community Shield before joining Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in December 2011. He struck five times in 22 reds games while on loan at Anfield from Paris Saint-Germain in the second half of the 2001/02 season.

 

Scottish inside-forward Willie Fagan and legendary red Billy Liddell both guested for the Blues during the Second World War. Fagan signed from Preston North End for £8,000 in October 1937, netting 57 goals in 182 reds games that helped fire us to the League title in 1947 and the FA Cup Final three years later, before moving to Belfast Distillery in January 1952. Liddell joined the reds in July 1938 while still only sixteen, and left the club 23 years later, having struck 228 times in 534 games. Their only club honour was the League title in 1947, although they both also played in the FA Cup Final three years later.

 

Right-half Ted Savage made 105 reds appearances after signing from Lincoln City in May 1931, scoring his only two goals for us on his debut, as a forward, against Grimsby Town. He moved to Old Trafford in December 1937 and also guested for Chelsea during wartime. Matt Busby signed for the reds from Manchester City for £8,000 in March 1936 and made 125 appearances, many as captain. Chelsea were one of several clubs he guested for during the war. Jamie Redknapp recently spent some time training Chelsea’s reserves while working towards his coaching badges.

[Will]

Down Memory Lane

 

YNWA looks back at past memorable away League encounters as we prepare to visit Chelsea on Sunday. Our overall record is poor, reading eighteen wins, fifteen draws and 38 defeats. We have won only four of the most recent 24 meetings in West London, although three of these victories have come in the last six League visits.

 

Most recently

Aussie left-back Brad Smith came off the bench to make his debut as we lost 2-1 in December 2013, with Martin Škrtel handing us an early lead. This was the first time we had lost consecutive League games under Brendan Rodgers, with Luis Suárez denied a strong late penalty claim. We drew 1-1 in November 2012, with John Terry nodding the home side in front in the first half, before Luis Suárez equalised after the break. We won 2-1 a year earlier, when Maxi Rodríguez opened the scoring. Daniel Sturridge equalised, with ex-Blue Glen Johnson nabbing the late winner.

 

Future Blue Raúl Meireles bagged the only goal in February 2011 as Fernando Torres’ Chelsea debut ended in anonymous disappointment. We lost 2-0 in October 2009, thanks to goals from Nicolas Anelka, the most recent of his five goals against us to date, and Florent Malouda. A year earlier, Xabi Alonso’s deflected strike was the only goal of the game, handing Chelsea their first home League defeat since February 2004, ending an 86-game unbeaten run. Alonso also hit the post with a second-half free-kick.

 

Clinching the title

Kenny Dalglish’s goal clinched our sixteenth League title in May 1986, and first half of the double, as we won 1-0. Future reds Nigel Spackman and David Speedie both played for Chelsea, with their Chairman stating in his programme notes, “Liverpool will win the Championship over my dead body”. We played our first game as reigning champions in April 1988, with John Barnes scoring 30-yard free-kick to secure us a share of the spoils after Gordon Durie’s penalty and Peter Beardsley having a late spot-kick saved that would have handed us victory.

 

Crazy Horse’s century

Emlyn Hughes reached a century of reds appearances as we won 2-1 in January 1969. Roger Hunt struck what was erroneously believed at the time to be a club record 234th League goal for the reds, but was in fact only his 233rd! Alun Evans headed in, with Bobby Tambling scoring the last of his eight goals against the reds.

 

More rare wins

Bruno Cheyrou’s first League goal handed us our first win at the Bridge for fifteen years in January 2004, despite the absence of Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. El-Hadji Diouf was unjustly sent off, with his red card later rescinded, and Jerzy Dudek went off injured to be replaced by debutant Patrice Luzi for the last quarter of an hour. Luzi became the fourth man to never concede a goal in his entire reds career between the sticks, although this was his only senior outing.

 

Ian Rush grabbed a brace as we won 5-2 in December 1989, with Peter Beardsley, Steve McMahon and Ray Houghton also on target against Bobby Campbell’s side, while Dave Beasant saved a Jan Mølby penalty, while Houghton had a goal disallowed. Campbell said, “On this form Liverpool could win the World Cup!” Gordon Durie scored one of his five goals against the reds, with Kerry Dixon netting one of his seven past us. Tom Chorlton and Bill McPherson struck in the last ten minutes as we won our first ever trip to the Bridge 2-0 in April 1908, with left-half Jim Bradley playing his hundredth League game for us. This was McPherson’s seventeenth and final reds goal in his 55th and last match for the club.

 

Debutants

Ray Kennedy scored on his reds bow in our 3-0 victory in August 1974, with Phil Boersma netting a brace. In April 1970, midfielder John McLaughlin made his reds debut as we lost 2-1 in a match postponed from two months earlier, with Peter Osgood bagging a brace for the home side and Bobby Graham on the scoresheet in our final game of the season. Forward Ted Harston scored on his debut back in August 1937, but George Mills notched a treble as we were thumped 6-1. Harry Burgess struck one of his nine goals against the reds, with Billy Mitchell and Jimmy Argue also on target as left-back Bernie Ramsden also made his reds bow. Dickie Spence scored all four Chelsea goals in December 1934 as we were beaten 4-1. Vic Wright nabbed our goal, with right-back Tommy Cooper making his reds bow.

 

Harry Beadles debuted as we won 1-0 in September 1921, courtesy of a Robert Matthews strike. Inside-right Fred Pagnam scored on his reds debut in October 1914 as we lost 3-1, while Thomas Bennett played his only first-class reds game in place of Pagnam as we lost 1-0 in October 1919. Left-half Joe Dines played his only reds game in a 2-1 win in September 1912, with Arthur Goddard and Tommy Gracie on target. He was killed on the Western Front in 1918. Three years earlier, outside-left John McDonald and inside-right James Stewart both debuted in our 2-1 loss, with Joe Hewitt scoring in our first game of the season. George Hilson struck the last of his five goals past the reds from the spot, with Jimmy Windridge also on target.

 

Keeping records

Ray Clemence played his 336th consecutive game in March 1978, a club record for a goalkeeper. Unfortunately we lost 3-1, with Phil Neal opening the scoring from the spot, our 5,000th League goal to date. Steve Finnieston bagged a brace, the last of his four goals past us, with Tommy Langley also on the scoresheet. Clem then missed our trip to Derby County four days later before making an immediate return. Back in February 1934, Elisha Scott played his 467th and final reds game in a 2-0 defeat, a career that spanned 21 years and 52 days. Hughie Gallacher scored the last of his eight goals against the reds, with Eric Oakton also netting.

 

Other recent defeats

Joe Cole bagged the only goal of the game as we lost 1-0 in January 2005. He later scored the only goal at Anfield as the Blues secured only their second League double over us, and first since October 1919. However, they repeated the feat in February 2006, as Pepe Reina was sent off for ‘pushing’ Arjen Robben in our 2-0 defeat, thanks to goals from William Gallas and Hernán Crespo. Luis García came on as a substitute and then was himself taken off as we had to re-organise. Seven months later, Didier Drogba struck one of his eleven goals against the reds as we lost 1-0, despite Michael Ballack being sent off for the home side. This was our fifth straight League defeat against the Blues.

 

We lost a Champions League decider 2-1 in May 2003. Sami Hyypiä gave us an early lead, but Marcel Desailly and Jesper Grønkjær both also struck in the first half. Steven Gerrard saw red late on for a wild challenge, while Patrik Berger played his 196th and final reds game.

 

Heavy defeats

We lost 4-0 in December 2001 thanks to goals from Graeme Le Saux, Sam Dalla Bona, Eiður Guðjohnsen and one of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s seven against the reds. This was our hundredth Premier League defeat, with Carlo Cudicini saving a Gary McAllister penalty. However, we remained three points clear at the top of the table. We lost by the same score in April 1965 with Bert Murray nabbing a brace to add to goals from Marvin Hinton and Bobby Tambling. Jamie Carragher played his hundredth League game in October 2000, while Sander Westerveld scored an own goal to set us on the way to a 3-0 defeat, with Hasselbaink and Guðjohnsen also on target. Mark Hughes opened the scoring but Karlheinz Riedle’s goal took us in level at half-time in April 1998, but three goals in eleven minutes led to a 4-1 defeat, with future reds Assistant Manager Steve Clarke, Tore André Flo also on target, with Hughes adding his ninth and last goal past us. Rob Jones made his 243rd and final appearance in this game.

 

Other memorable games

Michael Owen grabbed our consolation in a 2-1 defeat in February 1999. This was the game in which Robbie Fowler infamously bent over to taunt Graeme Le Saux, while midfielder Jean-Michel Ferri made the first of his two substitute appearances for the reds, coming on to replace Paul Ince early in the second half. We drew 3-3 in May 1987, with Ian Rush, Steve McMahon and John Aldridge on target in our final game of the season, as we ended nine points behind Everton in second place. Gary Gillespie made his hundredth reds appearance in this game. Future red David Speedie, Gordon Durie and John Bumstead all netted.

 

We came from two goals down to level but eventually lost 4-2 in May 1991, with Jimmy Carter coming on as a substitute and then later being substituted. David Speedie and Ronnie Rosenthal bagged our goals, while Gary Gillespie played his 214th and last reds game. Kerry Dixon nabbed a brace for the Blues, with Dennis Wise converting a penalty and Gordon Durie also on target. Ex-red Bobby Campbell resigned as Blues boss three days later. Jan Mølby scored his first reds goal in a 3-1 defeat in December 1984, with Kerry Dixon, David Speedie and Joe McLaughlin on target for the Blues. Centre-forward Les Bruton grabbed his only reds strike in a 2-0 win in December 1932, with Harold Barton also netting.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

the mancs will beat Palace.

 

It's mother's day here, so I'll miss this and thankfully miss the vomit inducing guard of honour

[Jonesy]

the mancs will beat Palace.

 

It's mother's day here, so I'll miss this and thankfully miss the vomit inducing guard of honour

 

Is your daughter taking you anywhere nice?

[Jarg Armani]

This match should serve as a severe lesson to all at the club about what can happen in 12 months when you are run by clever clever idiots.

 

FSG should be forced to go and watch this game with matchsticks in their eyes, and not be allowed to leave until they have a plan on some flipchart paper to make us the best.

[Jiggy Hates Jazz]

 

Is your daughter taking you anywhere nice?

 

[Red Yoda]

-------------Mignolet

Can--Skrtel--Lovren--Moreno

-------Henderson Allen

Gerrard---Coutinho-----Ibe

--------------Lambert

[mally]

Sad thing is they'll win here and barely break a sweat.

[Cam]

An away game, at a top 4 team, with an amazing home record... needs to be 4-5-1 this. Sit back, hit them on the break, dive like crazy, hope to nick a 1-0 win. Out-Chelsea Chelsea.

 

Mignolet

Johnson Skrtel Lovren Moreno

Gerrard Henderson Lucas Can Ibe

Coutinho

 

Phil as the false nine, needs to be getting more verbal if the runners from midfield aren't supporting him. Gerrard can do a job for 60 minutes before Sterling comes on.

[CaptainXabi]

An away game, at a top 4 team, with an amazing home record... needs to be 4-5-1 this. Sit back, hit them on the break, dive like crazy, hope to nick a 1-0 win. Out-Chelsea Chelsea.

 

Mignolet

Johnson Skrtel Lovren Moreno

Gerrard Henderson Lucas Can Ibe

Coutinho

 

Phil as the false nine, needs to be getting more verbal if the runners from midfield aren't supporting him. Gerrard can do a job for 60 minutes before Sterling comes on.

 

We're not going to out-Mourinho Mourinho. We should play something that actually gives us a chance of scoring (against a team that isn't Newcastle).

[Molby]

dead rubber

 

not that I'd miss it for Mothers Day, like a schwanz

[smithdown]

This match should serve as a severe lesson to all at the club about what can happen in 12 months when you are run by clever clever idiots.

 

FSG should be forced to go and watch this game with matchsticks in their eyes, and not be allowed to leave until they have a plan on some flipchart paper to make us the best.

They should go, like, just to have a look around if nothing else, be part of the family

[Candystore]

Telegraph reporting that Chelsea players given 4 days off this week. Raised eyebrows at Utd they say.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11590436/Chelsea-players-given-four-days-off-in-run-up-to-Liverpool-game-leading-to-raised-eyebrows-at-Man-Utd.html

Edited May 7, 2015 by Candystore

[whitewidow]

Telegraph reporting that Chelsea players given 4 days off this week. Raised eyebrows at Utd they say.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11590436/Chelsea-players-given-four-days-off-in-run-up-to-Liverpool-game-leading-to-raised-eyebrows-at-Man-Utd.html

 

Caused onset of squad wide Ebola at United would have been preferable.

[The_Adder]

Telegraph reporting that Chelsea players given 4 days off this week. Raised eyebrows at Utd they say.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11590436/Chelsea-players-given-four-days-off-in-run-up-to-Liverpool-game-leading-to-raised-eyebrows-at-Man-Utd.html

 

Lets hope they get Sunday off too.

[dorgie]

Telegraph reporting that Chelsea players given 4 days off this week. Raised eyebrows at Utd they say.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11590436/Chelsea-players-given-four-days-off-in-run-up-to-Liverpool-game-leading-to-raised-eyebrows-at-Man-Utd.html

 

Mourinho would take great delight on Sunday evening in telling everyone they still beat us despite a week on the piss.

[lfc003]

----------- Mignolet ----------

-- Can -- Skrtel -- Lovren --

------ Lucas -- Gerrard ------

---- Henderson -- Allen ------

-------- Phil Coutinho -------

--- Ibe ------------- Raheem ---

 

Subs: Kolo, Glen, Lallana, Lambert, Lazar, Mario, Moreno

[D.Boon]

I expect a drubbing with Cameron wheeled on at half time to lead a round of "Sign on"

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Telegraph reporting that Chelsea players given 4 days off this week. Raised eyebrows at Utd they say.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11590436/Chelsea-players-given-four-days-off-in-run-up-to-Liverpool-game-leading-to-raised-eyebrows-at-Man-Utd.html

 

Monday and Tuesday off and says he gave them the 'option' of Wednesday and Thursday off.

 

I wonder how many took that option up though .......

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

our record vs top 4 this season

 

W1

D1

L5

 

Beat City (H), drew with Arsenal (H)

 

Chelsea's home record W14, D3, L0

 

Don't want to be a doom-mongerer but...