Happy Tuesday Reds.
Chelsea at home is up next. We are starting to approach that part of the season whereby every single league game becomes a must win because of a certain Manchester City – who are starting to flex their muscles, as they always do. Chelsea, whilst a laughing stock for their wild spending matched with mediocre results under Mauricio Pochettino, propose a massive challenge for the reds on Wednesday night.
Our recent form against Chelsea is poor. We have not beaten them in the Premier League since September 2020, and at home before then in July that year – one of the great nights supporting this club. Recently, though, this fixture has been mundane and filled with draws. Not quite the spectacle for what this fixture should deliver. So many famous battles over the years and tomorrow night we can hope for another one. Let’s talk about it.
We are coming into this fixture in fine form, having won our last three league games. Feels like we have only been playing cup games recently. But our league form is top. Our last two games we ran riot against Bournemouth and Newcastle having scored 4 on both occasions. We have been in great scoring form and so you can expect another fast start tomorrow. However, Chelsea arrive in good form too. They have alike won their last three league games. Only this time last week they thrashed Middlesbrough to reach Wembley – where they will meet no other than the Mighty Reds next month. Despite languishing in 9th currently they have some good players who on their day can hurt you. None other than Cole Palmer, who has been very good since signing in the summer. You would expect to have some good players when you spend what they have, truth be told.
Team selection. Like the headline suggests, we have so much competition for places. Today’s press conference confirmed Alexis Mac Allister to be available and we were even treated to the news that Thiago Alcantara has been in full training. Can’t quite believe that. I do believe this game will have came too quickly for him so we are going to discount him from selection.
Alisson starts. Defence is interesting. I personally want to see Trent Alexander-Arnold return to the starting line-up. Then Ibrahima Konate will pair up with the skipper. Joe Gomez has been flawless at left-back and would expect him to start.
Midfield we have many options. I would want Mac Allister in the six as he is available and been performing much better recently. I would like to see Curtis Jones on the left as he is in great form. The other spot is up for debate. But I would go for Harvey Elliott. I do not believe Szoboszlai will be ready from the start. Elliott has been superb lately and I would expect him to start after his rest on the weekend.
The frontline is very much up for debate. Gone are the days where we had a settled three in Salah, Mane and Firmin. We now have five options who all are good enough to start. Of course four for this one, as Mohamed Salah is unavailable at this moment. I would expect Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez to be starting. Then it is preference between Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota. I would personally select Jota from the start as he is in great goalscoring form.
Alisson. Alexander-Arnold. Konate. Van Dijk. Gomez. Mac Allister. Elliott. Jones. Diaz. Jota. Nunez.
This team has more than enough to beat Chelsea. At this moment in time there is an inevitably watching the reds. You always feel assured the goal is coming. Even if we go behind there is not any panic or doubt creeping in. We have such good momentum and so I would expect us to win. Especially at home. We have to win to keep the pressure on Manchester City. I would edge a 2-1 win. Although we do have the quality to blow Chelsea away and if we are talking on Thursday after another 4 goals in a league game then I would not be surprised in the slightest.
That’s it for the Match Build-up. Thank you so much for reading it. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments on this post, it would be greatly appreciated. Up the Mighty Reds.