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| (AFP) |
As the
destination of the league title gets clearer in just about every top five
league in Europe, its crunch time in England.
Liverpool versus
Chelsea is always a massive clash and Sunday’s instalment is set to decide the
fate of both teams this season; one slip could change it all, it has previously . Title-chasing Liverpool are two points clear of Manchester
City having played a game more and must simply beat Chelsea; who are looking to
seal a stronghold of the top four race.
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| Mo Salah. Image: Getty Images |
Liverpool’s
compact front three of Mo Salah, Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mané would
cause Chelsea problems all evening, and their flying full backs; Andy Robertson
and Trent Alexander-Arnold would look to occupy the wide spaces vacated by
their forwards and whip crosses into the box. It’s the ultimate test of
Maurizio Sarri’s improved defence which has conceded three in the last six
games in all competitions.
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| Andrew Robertson's intensity is a huge aspect of Liverpool's game. Image: Getty Images |
Liverpool,
though, have an Eden Hazard-shaped problem; and the man with the most goal
involvements in the Premier League is in that mood at the moment. The reds have
to be wary of his fluid movement across the final third, he looks for spaces
and dribbles at the defence at will and the midfield has to stop passes into him. The assured presence of Player of the year contender Virgil Van Dijk in
defence should prompt Chelsea to deploy Olivier Giroud’s physical presence to
keep him occupied.
Academy graduates
Ruben loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi would be important to any good result
for Chelsea. Hudson-Odoi is perhaps key
to pinning the aforementioned threat of Andy Robertson and exploiting the
spaces left behind by his forays forward. The teenager is having his run in the
team and must be chomping at the bit to isolate and run at the left back, who is
no slouch for speed either.
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| Ruben Loftus-Cheek would look to impose himself on this game |
Ruben
Loftus-Cheek would also be looking to impose himself on this big game against
Liverpool’s dynamic midfield; his intense bursts forward and dribbling are increasingly
important to Chelsea’s transition play. He would have to contend with Naby
Keita who is picking up form having put in energetic displays and scored in the
last two games.
Chelsea have
to thwart the Anfield crowd doing their bit to roar Liverpool to the league
title, on Jürgen Klopp’s 200th game as manager. Liverpool are unbeaten
in the last 37 league games at home but Chelsea are also unbeaten in their last
six league games at Anfield, they beat Liverpool there in the league cup last September.
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| Eden Hazard celebrating his winner in the league cup tie earlier this season. Image: REUTERS |
Chelsea
arrive for their third game in a week after away exertions in Prague in the
Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday; Liverpool on the other hand, last
played on Tuesday.
The hosts
have scored the most late goals this season (21) and are followed by the
visitors (19) on that list. This game is set for a pulsating finish.
Who can
stand tall after 90-odd minutes? Over to the titans
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