The saying is that records are there to be broken and few in
football stand taller than Jose Mouriniho’s unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge
in the Premier League, but they must all come to an end at sometime and
Liverpool are capable of underlying their title credentials for the second
time in a week and taking all three points from Stamford Bridge today.
Chelsea, with Jose Mourinhio at the helm following his
return from Real Madrid, were many’s bet for the title following the departure
of Sir Alex Feguson from Manchester United and during the first half of the
season most things have gone to plan – they are within striking distance of the
top of the table and through to the last 16 of the Champions League with the
calendar year gone – but the results have been the only thing coming in the
last few weeks.
The Blues have dropped just the two points at Stamford
Bridge this season but have been playing below par for a long time and haven’t
impressed in December, being deservedly beaten by Stoke and struggling to get
past Steaua in their last Champions League game before being outplayed for long
periods by a resurgent Crystal Palace here. A similarly poor display at
Sunderland in extra time of the League Cup (a game they had for the tasking)
along with a failure to put away Swansea (despite making many chances in their
most convincing display for a month) put significant doubts over a home price
of just 5/4.
The Blues did got to the Emirates and completely shut down
Arsenal – something this Liverpool side failed to do – in a game that really
wasn’t one for the thriller stakes – although even then they lacked the
attacking fluency that a side boasting so many attacking midfielders should do
and the lack of a real firing striker has the potential to become a serious
problem if not addressed in January.
Liverpool were widely written off regarding honours with
Luis Suarez at one point set to leave and then being suspended for eight games
but Brendan Rodgers’ young side have really improved this season and following
a shaky patch in September have been one of the most impressive teams in the
league with the absent Daniel Sturridge partnering with Luis Suarez to wreak
havoc. The Reds have won just one of their last 5 on the road but were
exceptional in dismantling Tottenham and can feel unlucky not to have taken a
point away from Manchester City, starting and ending the game much the stronger
of the two sides and giving City their hardest test at that point this season.
A slightly below par performance from a changed side against
Crystal Palace yesterday gives a slight worry regarding how Rodgers’s men will
deal with two tough games in 2 days, but they have the players in Henderson,
Sterling, Coutiniho and main man Luis Suarez to cause Chelslea a litany of problems
and if showing their best, are well overpriced at 13/5. In the eventuality that
Jose decides to take the extremely conservative approach, as he has done on the
road, take the 8/11 with Sportingbet that the Redmen cen return with a point.
Advice
1 pt Liverpool (5/2 general, 13/5 Youwin)
2 pts Liverpool-Draw (8/11 Sportingbet)
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