LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 11: Kolo Toure of Liverpool challenges Eden Hazard of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea on May 11, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
Liverpool take on Chelsea this Friday, and we’ve decided to put together the strongest eleven using players from both teams
Liverpool take on Chelsea away from home this Friday, and the game is sure to be a good one. Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp already faced off during preseason, but this is when it really matters.
The Reds have been in good form, following a nervy start to the season. They beat Arsenal away from home, but then lost embarrassingly to Burnley. Their good form returned with a draw against Tottenham Hotspur – a game which Liverpool should have won. This weekend, Liverpool looked the best they have all season as they demolished the champions Leicester City 4-1.
Chelsea’s start to the season has been slightly stronger in terms of points. The Blues started off with wins against West Ham and Watford, before going on to smash Burnley 3-0. They did however draw against Swansea in their last Premier League game, conceding two goals.
Both of these two sides have strong players, and the match will surely be a tough-fought game. It’s second place taking on sixth place, with only three points separating the teams. A Liverpool victory will see the Reds rise to meet Chelsea on equal points, whereas a Chelsea win could see Liverpool lingering lower in the table.
As far as predictions go, I think Liverpool are strong enough to win this game. The complications, however, come from our lack of consistency. It’s inevitable that we’ll concede a goal, but unless our players show up we’ll struggle to stop Chelsea running away with the points.
Everything depends on who shows up and how focused the players are. There’s no team better at throwing away games due to a lapse in concentration. Here’s our combined eleven for the match between Liverpool and Chelsea.
SWANSEA, WALES – SEPTEMBER 11: Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at The Liberty Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois
This position was one that picked itself. Thibaut Courtois is better than Simon Mignolet in every way you can imagine, and starts ahead of the Liverpool goalkeeper for the Belgian national team. While Mignolet impressed against Leicester City, it would be futile to try and justify his place in this team.
Loris Karius could possibly challenge Courtois, but as of yet we haven’t seen him play in the Premier League and have no idea how good he’ll actually perform.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool shoots at goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at White Hart Lane on August 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
RB – Nathaniel Clyne
The ever-consistent Clyne gets a place in this team quite easily. Branislav Ivanovic isn’t, for me, as effective as Clyne.
Heading onto Chelsea’s website, it says that Ivanovic has only made 1 successful tackle and 14 clearances. Similarly, heading onto the Liverpool website you can find that Clyne has made 10 tackles, winning 80% of them, and he’s also made 11 clearances.
The defensive statistics seem to support Clyne as the more effective player, but statistics are never the full story. I like Ivanovic because he’s a tougher and taller defender, but I feel that Clyne’s pace and ability to burst up and down the flank makes him a better full-back.
SWANSEA, WALES – SEPTEMBER 11: Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill (r) fail to stop the second Swansea goal scored by Leroy Fer (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at Liberty Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
CB – Gary Cahill
Originally, I was going to pick John Terry in this position. His experience and leadership would serve any team well. I changed my mind based on his age, his injury, and the fact that Gary Cahill has been doing rather well.
Chelsea’s official website shows that Cahill has made 9 interceptions and 20 total clearances, with the English defender being a strong presence in the Chelsea back-line. He’s been an influential defender for some time now – if you disregard his international performances, that is.
BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND – JULY 08: Joel Matip of Liverpool during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Tranmere Rovers and Liverpool at Prenton Park on July 8, 2016 in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
CB – Joel Matip
Since arriving at Liverpool, Joel Matip has been on fire. This tall defender performed well against both Tottenham and Leicester, keeping their attackers quiet and being reliable at the back.
He’s great on the ball, good at attacking/defending set pieces, and he makes positive runs forward when it’s safe to do so. His distribution is quality, and I think he’ll establish himself as one of the better centre-backs in the Premier League this season.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea (top) and team mates mob Eden Hazard (obscured) as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on May 3, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LB – Cesar Azpilicueta
Do I really need to explain? This position was a choice between Cesar Azpilicueta, Alberto Moreno and James Milner. Despite Milner’s positive performance and assist against Leicester, I think Cesar is a far more natural left-back.
He’s the better of the three defensively in my opinion, and he takes this position in the team comfortably.
SWANSEA, WALES – SEPTEMBER 11: N’Golo Kante of Chelsea is chased by Gylfi Sigurdsson of Swansea City during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at Liberty Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
CDM – N’Golo Kante
Oh what I’d give to have a player like N’Golo Kante at Liverpool. The way this man moves and reads the game is unbelievable. He adds so much to any team he features in, and his work rate allows him to always be in the right place at the right time.
He’s a brilliant defensive powerhouse, despite many arguing that he’s a CM. I placed him in CDM because the way he can defend and then carry the ball up the field would be key for this team. He transitions play well, and I think he’s one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
COBHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on September 9, 2016 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
CM – Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas is a player I’m unsure about. His first season at Chelsea saw him provide numerous assists and he performed very well, but I just feel he struggles to stay at that level. So far this season he’s made 2 appearances from the bench, bagging one assist.
He also boasts 100% shooting accuracy, and 100% tackling accuracy, with a respectable 83% pass accuracy according to his stats on the official Chelsea site. I picked him in this team for his creative passing and assists, plus, he takes a pretty decent set-piece.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool celebrates scoring his free kick with Alberto Moreno during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on August 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
CM – Philippe Coutinho
The little magician moves back into central midfield in order to fit into this team. Philippe Coutinho has been one of Liverpool’s top players for the past couple of seasons, and his long range screamers are a joy to see.
He tormented Chelsea the last time Liverpool played at Stamford Bridge, and he’ll hopefully do the same once again. He’s always good for a goal, and his creativity adds the Red’s threat. Coutinho is one of the most precise and controlled dribblers in the league, and on his day he can embarrass some of the best.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Sadio Mane of Liverpool during the International Champions Cup 2016 match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
RAM – Sadio Mane
Since arriving at Liverpool, Sadio Mane has been one of our key players. His pace on the attack can be deadly, and he causes the opposition defenders hell. Danny Rose looked shattered after marking Mane.
He’s another Liverpool player you can turn to for a goal, and the way he dribbled through the Arsenal side was quality. He creates, scores, and causes havoc – what more could you want?
He starts in this team ahead of Willian (who I rate highly) purely for how good he’s looked in these past few games. He’s also scored more than the Chelsea winger so far this season.
SANTA CLARA, CA – JULY 30: Roberto Firmino of Liverpool FC celebrates a goal during the International Champions Cup match against AC Milan at Levi’s Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
CAM – Roberto Firmino
After bagging an impressive double against Leicester City, Firmino looks to be bang in form. The Brazilian has a knack for creating goals as well as scoring them. He never fails to make chances, but he’s particularly good at getting on the end of them.
I’m not sure Oscar comes close to keeping Firmino out of this team, especially given how well Firmino has been performing recently. If Firmino was more consistent, he’s certainly be recognised as one of the best players in the league, but as always that ‘if’ is a big one.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Eden Hazard of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on August 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
LAM – Eden Hazard
After taking a vacation last season, Eden Hazard is back once again. He’s gone from laughing stock to legend in his short time under Conte, and it’s now apparent something behind the scenes had Hazard shaken up.
The clever dribbling of this Belgian is second only to his ability to find the back of the net. When he steps up, he can be the match-winning player for Chelsea, and I personally think he’s one of the best wingers in the world.
SWANSEA, WALES – SEPTEMBER 11: Diego Costa of Chelsea reacts during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at Liberty Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
ST – Diego Costa
God I hate Diego Costa. He’s a disgusting player to watch, who plays an overly physical game to the point of violence at times. I truly wish Jordan Henderson had chinned him.
Enough moaning, because his antics can’t hide the fact he’s a phenomenal goalscorer. So far this season he’s Chelsea’s top goalscorer with 4 goals, and he’s in superb form. No matter who he winds up, how often he dives, or how much he should be sent off, Costa still manages to win games with his goals.
The quality of his finishing is brilliant, and I wish it wasn’t true but it just is. He’s an ugly player, that manages to find the net more than he deserves too.
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He makes it into this team over Daniel Sturridge, who simply hasn’t been playing enough or find the net as much as he should. A fit, in form Sturridge would take this spot, but sadly that’s not the case right now.
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