Chelsea host Liverpool
Suarez (left) and Ivanovic will come head-to-head for the first time since the infamous biting incident that resulted in a 10-match suspension for the Uruguayan
What you need to know:
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has highlighted the lack of goals from his attack this season and the game against Swansea on Boxing Day only increased his frustration as his side failed to turn their clear superiority into a more convincing win. They will have to be more clinical against Liverpool
LONDON- In what is becoming a thrilling close season, Chelsea will be hoping to stay in the thick of things when they host Liverpool in the biggest English Premier League game of the weekend.
With Chelsea pipping Swansea on Thursday evening and Liverpool suffering defeat at the Etihad stadium, tomorrow’s match is clearly a must win for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Chelsea are sitting third on the table on 37 points, a point better than Liverpool. But the biggest criticism for Jose Mourinho’s side is that their results have been laboured and the team is struggling for fluidity.
In contrast Liverpool, despite the loss to Manchester City, have been one of the league’s more exciting teams with a passing style and cohesiveness that has made them be labeled in some quarters as contenders for the trophy.
If there is one shortfall in the Liverpool armoury, it is their over reliance on Luis Suarez, the league’s best player. Although Philippe Coutinho struck their solitary goal against City, Liverpool have been heavily reliant on strikers Daniel Sturridge and Suarez.
Chelsea meanwhile must find a way of getting goals out of their misfiring strikers Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o. Mourinho’s job is certainly safe but a feeling persists that the Stamford faithful anticipated a better showing by this stage of the season when the ‘Special One’ returned.
Facts
City are one point behind leaders Arsenal, who won 3-1 at West Ham on Thursday night, with Liverpool fourth behind Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho has never lost a league match at Stamford Bridge in 69 games.
With 43 goals, Liverpool are the second highest scorers in the Premier League this season.
