Liverpool FC Forum

woof woof ! wrote:

john craig wrote:This is as comfortable as I can remember us looking at Stamford Bridge.  Mascherano has been immense so far and we are keeping possession well when we get it.  We have a chance to nick it here, no doubt.  Carragher and Skrtel have actually looked quite solid so far, but set pieces against us are still the worry.

Nothing between the two sides but whenever we're defending a freekick or corner my ringpeice is in knots   

Ballack and Anelka should have buried their headers really... we are clearly weak from crossed balls.  They have weaknesses too though, particularly a lack of pace at the back and Torres running in behind.

s@int wrote:

maguskwt wrote:

aCe' wrote:Our fullbacks need some more protection from the 2 wingers and maybe the 2 holding midfielders... we're losing pretty much every 1 v. 1 down the flanks at the defensive end... sooner or later one of those crosses will find a blue shirt at the other end...

0-0 at halftime isnt a bad result at all.. chance for Rafa to reconsider how to take it from here on

any suggestions then?

Bring agger on for Lucas and play three at the back with Agger as the spare man moving forward when we are in possession ?

aCe' wrote:

s@int wrote:

maguskwt wrote:

aCe' wrote:Our fullbacks need some more protection from the 2 wingers and maybe the 2 holding midfielders... we're losing pretty much every 1 v. 1 down the flanks at the defensive end... sooner or later one of those crosses will find a blue shirt at the other end...

0-0 at halftime isnt a bad result at all.. chance for Rafa to reconsider how to take it from here on

any suggestions then?

Bring agger on for Lucas and play three at the back with Agger as the spare man moving forward when we are in possession ?

Wouldnt change the shape, think its working well here.. probably just have a word with Lucas and maybe Riera... tell them to try and get back to cover the fullbacks a little more... Try to force A.Cole and Drogba/Anelka into dead ends instead of allowing them to put the crosses in...

I think Chelsea are playing so narrow that for once three at the back would work. He will never try it ..... so we will never know 

john craig wrote:

aCe' wrote:Our fullbacks need some more protection from the 2 wingers and maybe the 2 holding midfielders... we're losing pretty much every 1 v. 1 down the flanks at the defensive end... sooner or later one of those crosses will find a blue shirt at the other end...

0-0 at halftime isnt a bad result at all.. chance for Rafa to reconsider how to take it from here on

What wingers?

Chelsea are playing a diamond, very narrow.  Their only width has come from Cole down the left and Drogba when he has pulled out to their right flank.  We're playing exactly the right way to counter their diamond... our full backs are tucking in so there is no spaces to thread balls through our inside left and inside right.

If Ancelloti is wise he'll pull Anelka out to one of the flanks to open it up a bit, he's had nothing so far playing centrally.