Red v Blue: Anfield next destination for unbeaten Chelsea

Liverpool hope to vanquish memories of 2-0 defeat that cost them EPL title

LIVERPOOL: Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool will prove they have learnt from last season's agonising defeat against Chelsea when they look for revenge against the Premier League leaders on Saturday.

Rodgers' side blew their bid to win a first league title since 1990 when Steven Gerrard's costly slip and Liverpool's failure to prise open Chelsea's defence led to a 2-0 loss that effectively handed the English crown to eventual champions Manchester City.

With Jose Mourinho's side back at Anfield for the first time since that heart-breaking result in April, Rodgers is sure his players will be wiser for the experience as they aim to get their spluttering campaign back on track. Liverpool have taken just one point from their last two league games and sit seventh in the table, 12 points behind unbeaten Chelsea.

"We have learned from that [2-0 loss],” said Rodgers. “This is a new challenge and obviously it will be a difficult game for us. They are unbeaten and the strongest team at the moment in the league — that's why they're top. But for us playing at Anfield, regardless of the opponent, we have every confidence that we can go and get a good result."

Rodgers’ team selection against Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek received criticism from several quarters as the Reds started without several first-team players.

Mourinho also had a dig at the former Chelsea youth coach, suggesting that he gave up even before kick-off. “If one day I go to a game and I don’t feel I can win, maybe I don’t go,” said the Portuguese.

Liverpool's unfamiliar side put up a decent fight at the Santiago Bernabeu but lost 1-0 to the holders and Rodgers stands behind his team selection. "There has been a bit of criticism but I think that is a disservice to the team and the players that played," said Rodgers. “I don't look so much into it. Any criticism is part of what you must take as a manager. I just felt it was unfair on the players. Those boys put in great performances on the evening.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has further stoked the tensions between the bitter rivals by reawakening memories of his side's triumph at Anfield.

Chelsea’s tactics in that game had drawn criticism from Rodgers, who accused Mourinho of adopting an overly defensive approach. But Matic, the goalscorer in Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Maribor in midweek, said the Blues have broken down many teams adopting similar tactics against them. "Many teams this season have tried to park the bus in front of the goal against us, but we win," said Matic. "It's not easy. If you defend, you have to know how to defend. In that game we showed we have quality. Nobody's happy when you lose a game, and they weren't happy after that match."

City travel to QPR

Defending champions Manchester City will be hoping that Liverpool will do them a favour and the gap between them and Chelsea will not be more than six points when the Sky Blues travel to West London to face QPR later on Saturday.

However, skipper Vincent Kompany is not happy with his side’s current form and claims there needs to be improvement when they face 19^th-placed QPR. Despite defeating Manchester United in the Manchester derby in their last league game, City have been poor recently and lost 2-1 to CSKA Moscow at home in midweek. "The result says enough,” said a fuming Kompany.

Saturday's fixtures

Liverpool v Chelsea
Burnley v Hull
Man United v Palace
Soton v Leicester
West Ham v Aston Villa
QPR v Man City

 

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