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[VIDEO] Chelsea vs Liverpool Highlights: Premier League scores, blog

10th May, 2015
Kickoff: 1am (AEST)
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Head-to-head: Played 171, Liverpool 74, Chelsea 61, Draw 36
TV: Fox Sports 4 (Live) – From 12:45am (AEST)
Betting: Chelsea $2.05, draw $3.60, Liverpool $3.60
Referee: Andre Marriner
Last five meetings:
Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool (English League Cup – 27/01/15 – Stamford Bridge)
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (English League Cup – 20/01/15 – Anfield)
Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea (English Premier League – 08/11/14 – Anfield)
Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea (English Premier League – 27/04/14 – Anfield)
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool (English Premier League – 29/12/13 – Stamford Bridge)
Steven Gerrard has been linked with moves back to Liverpool and Celtic, but could he go to the A-League? (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
Roar Guru
10th May, 2015
57
3215 Reads

Liverpool will continue to fight for a top-four place as they travel to meet champions-elect Chelsea. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary on Monday morning from 12:45am (AEST).

How times have turned for both Chelsea and Liverpool, specifically times from 12 months ago.

A gorgeous April day at Anfield was soured for all those in red when Jose Mourinho’s understrength Chelsea built a brick wall in front of Liverpool’s title hopes, which would flounder only a week later.

While Liverpool have not stopped thinking back of that critical moment, Chelsea need not. The title race was still alive last season when Chelsea travelled to Anfield. In contrast, Liverpool journey south in full awareness their opponents have secured the championship with games to spare.

First will come the guard of honour that Liverpool players will surely bestow upon their hosts, followed then by a partisan and noisy Stamford Bridge ready to inflict further pain upon their red rivals by denying them a place in the top four.

Chelsea’s record points tally of 95 from Mourinho’s first season in charge in 2004-05 cannot be bested this term, and with that in mind, Mourinho may use the next three games to test his options for next season. This may involve greater involvement of the players that have regularly warmed the bench in recent weeks as the Portuguese has largely retained a core of 12 or 13 players to win him the title. Expect the likes of Filipe Luis, Kurt Zouma and young star Ruben Loftus-Cheek to get a run.

Therefore, Brendan Rodgers will be aware of the need to get a positive result at Stamford Bridge, something only Sunderland has achieved in Jose Mourinho’s two spells. Few will expect Liverpool to have an impact on Monday at the enemy’s den when they failed to do so last season at home with Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez in tow. Couple this with the Reds’ recent poor run of form, halted only by a lucky escape against QPR last weekend, and Liverpool’s chances look bleak.

Striking options are thin of the ground courtesy of the failure of Mario Balotelli, minimal presence of Rickie Lambert, and the ongoing absence of Sturridge. Therefore, Brendan Rodgers may seek to play Raheem Sterling once again as a false 9, with Coutinho and Adam Lallana siding alongside the wantaway gun.

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A bigger question for Rodgers is deciding whether to start Steven Gerrard, who no longer looks part of Liverpool’s best XI. In his place, Rodgers may opt for Lucas to be charged to monitor the work of Eden Hazard and Willian.

The prospect of Champions League football should motivate Liverpool, knowing their opponent has already won their battle this season. But the maths doesn’t lie – that door will close as well should they likely lose at Stamford Bridge and Manchester United win at Crystal Palace.

Expect Chelsea’s title joy to be further iced with a win. Join us from 12:45am (AEST) as it all unfolds.

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