Selasa, April 07, 2009

CL Quarter Final: Liverpool v Chelsea Preview


Liverpool and Chelsea meet each other in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the fourth time in five seasons.

The three previous occasions (2005, 2007 and 2008) have all been semi-finals but this one is a quarter final clash.

Liverpool won the first two of those semi-finals when the first leg was played at Stamford Bridge, but last season’s first leg draw at Anfield gave Chelsea a change in fortunes. With the first leg at Anfield this time, Rafa Benitez's team will be keen to make amends and not make the same mistake this season.

Confidence will be high given Liverpool’s league form and their two victories over the Blues already this season. 1-0 at the Bridge and 2-0 at Anfield in February. But Guus Hiddink is now in charge and Chelsea are finding new resilience in the League.

Liverpool are without the suspended Javier Mascherano, booked against Real Madrid for the second time, so Lucas Leiva is likely to continue alongside Xabi Alonso in midfield.

Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio are expected to come back into the side on the left.

Chelsea were without Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa for their 2-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday.

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