Chelsea prepare for ‘bogey team’ Liverpool
Blues aim to break losing streak against the Reds.
LONDON:
Roberto Di Matteo admits Liverpool have become Chelsea’s ‘bogey team’ ahead of the visit of Brendan Rodgers’ side to Stamford Bridge today.
The importance of maintaining pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United will inevitably provide a more powerful incentive to the Blues, but di Matteo’s side are also anxious to end a run of four straight league defeats against the Anfield club.
“They are our bogey team,” said di Matteo. “They seem to always play exceptionally well against us and get results. They are a difficult team to beat. They always find to play us in a moment when we are not at our best. But we are in good spirits, full of confidence and the team is playing well. Hopefully it will be a different story.”
Fernando Torres is certain to start but John Terry’s inclusion on his return from a four-match domestic ban is far from guaranteed after di Matteo’s decision to leave the Chelsea captain on the bench against Shakhtar.
Liverpool manager Rodgers is concerned with the threat offered by Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar who have provided Chelsea with a different attacking dimension this season.
“Chelsea are very dynamic, they’re great technicians,” said Rodgers. “Stamford Bridge is always a difficult place to go and get a result but we will go there with confidence. We’ve got some top players who can hurt anybody on a given day.”
City aim for redemption against Spurs
Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City side will attempt to recover from yet another European disappointment when they return to Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium today.
A midweek 2-2 home draw to Ajax all but ended City’s hopes of reaching the Champions League group stages and Mancini’s frustration was clear when he confronted the referee on the pitch at the end of the game.
Tottenham will arrive at the Etihad with the disadvantage of having faced Maribor in the Europa League 48 hours after City had taken on Ajax. Spurs are currently in sixth place, level on points with Everton and West Brom, and Gareth Bale admits the tie will be a difficult one for them.
“This is another big game,” said Gareth Bale. “We know it will be very difficult and we’ll give it our all. We’ve played well away, we’ll prepare right and hopefully we’ll get the right result.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2012.
Roberto Di Matteo admits Liverpool have become Chelsea’s ‘bogey team’ ahead of the visit of Brendan Rodgers’ side to Stamford Bridge today.
The importance of maintaining pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United will inevitably provide a more powerful incentive to the Blues, but di Matteo’s side are also anxious to end a run of four straight league defeats against the Anfield club.
“They are our bogey team,” said di Matteo. “They seem to always play exceptionally well against us and get results. They are a difficult team to beat. They always find to play us in a moment when we are not at our best. But we are in good spirits, full of confidence and the team is playing well. Hopefully it will be a different story.”
Fernando Torres is certain to start but John Terry’s inclusion on his return from a four-match domestic ban is far from guaranteed after di Matteo’s decision to leave the Chelsea captain on the bench against Shakhtar.
Liverpool manager Rodgers is concerned with the threat offered by Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar who have provided Chelsea with a different attacking dimension this season.
“Chelsea are very dynamic, they’re great technicians,” said Rodgers. “Stamford Bridge is always a difficult place to go and get a result but we will go there with confidence. We’ve got some top players who can hurt anybody on a given day.”
City aim for redemption against Spurs
Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City side will attempt to recover from yet another European disappointment when they return to Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium today.
A midweek 2-2 home draw to Ajax all but ended City’s hopes of reaching the Champions League group stages and Mancini’s frustration was clear when he confronted the referee on the pitch at the end of the game.
Tottenham will arrive at the Etihad with the disadvantage of having faced Maribor in the Europa League 48 hours after City had taken on Ajax. Spurs are currently in sixth place, level on points with Everton and West Brom, and Gareth Bale admits the tie will be a difficult one for them.
“This is another big game,” said Gareth Bale. “We know it will be very difficult and we’ll give it our all. We’ve played well away, we’ll prepare right and hopefully we’ll get the right result.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2012.