Darren Norris
IT may only be the first week of October but the significance of Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday should not be underestimated.
We didn’t know it then but 12 months ago it was Liverpool’s victory in this fixture, a result that ended Chelsea 86-game four-year unbeaten run, that marked the beginning of the end of the Luis Felipe Scolari era. As significantly, Liverpool’s win then signalled they were, at last, ready to make a sustained title challenge.
While Sunday’s match, whatever its result, is unlikely to have the same implications for Carlo Ancelotti as it ultimately did for Scolari it is undoubtedly the Italian’s biggest match since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.
Last season Chelsea’s dismal record against the other members of the big four - they lost four out of six games - taking just four points from a possible 18, ultimately wrecked their title hopes. The London side will know improving that record this season is vital.
Sunday provides them with an opportunity not only to put last weekend’s shock defeat to Wigan and an unconvincing Champions League win against Apoel Nicosia behind them but to issue a real serious statement of intent.
As importantly it would push one of Chelsea’s title rivals six points in arrears, an important consideration given that Chelsea will want and probably need to be out in front by the end of December if they are to win the title given that they could struggle in January when they lose key players Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel to African Nations Cup duty.
For Liverpool the stakes are just as high. They come into this game off the back of a disappointing Champions League display when they surrendered tamely to a 2-0 defeat to Fiorentina.
However, after losing two of their opening three games, the Reds have recovered well in the league to move to within touching distance of leaders Manchester United and Chelsea. Rafael Benitez will demand a response after Liverpool’s listless showing in Italy and his team will need to produce one.
After all defeat here would mean Liverpool will lost more games already this season than they did in the whole of last season when they finished four points behind United. Psychologically, even this early in this season, that would be a hammer blow and is the main reasons why I expect Liverpool to adopt a negative, defensive strategy on Sunday.
And given that, despite the fact Chelsea began the season with six successive wins, they’ve struggled at times to break defensive teams down with Frank Lampard unable to find space in their diamond midfield, it could be a strategy that allow Liverpool to leave Stamford Bridge with a point on Sunday.
