da imperador bet： After already facing Arsenal and Leicester, last season’s top two, Jurgen Klopp’s tough start to the season continues as Liverpool travel to Chelsea for the second instalment of Friday night football.
da bwin： It’s been a mixed season so far for the Reds, but Liverpool’s last game against Leicester shows just what their squad is capable of.
Klopp seems to know mostly what his best team is, but he’s also quite clearly not afraid to mix his team up when the opposition’s formation and set up calls for it.
Against Tottenham, Klopp started with Roberto Firmino in the striker role to hassle and harry the Spurs defence, and when he was dropped back to make room for Divock Origi, that pressure on Spurs’ defence dropped, leaving them with space to play out from the back and get a foothold in the game.
Against Chelsea, a similar tactic could be used. Liverpool will press with intensity, which is also something that Antonio Conte will want from his team. The difference is that Jurgen Klopp’s team are further into their progression than Conte’s Chelsea are. Klopp has had almost a full year to instil his ideas, Conte just a few months.
Here is a team who can out press and out think Chelsea this weekend…
Simon Mignolet
With Loris Karius still out with a broken hand, Simon Mignolet’s stay in the Liverpool goal continues. He has already conceded seven goals, and only four teams have conceded more than that – three of them are in the bottom four.
There is something incredibly unsettling about seeing Mignolet with the ball at his feet, but when Liverpool are bombing forward, it’s easy for Liverpool to forget their defensive frailties!
Nathaniel Clyne
Nathaniel Clyne is the undisputed holder of Liverpool’s right back slot. He is reliable and steady whilst also giving his attackers ahead of him an option for an out ball and is a threat to the opposition on the overlap.
He’s a modern full back playing in a modern team, and given Liverpool’s problems on the other side of the pitch, Clyne’s form is very welcome.
Joel Matip
After the first four games of the season, Joel Matip has started to look very much at home in the heart of Liverpool’s defence. He takes the ball out of defence and often pops up in the midfield, starting Liverpool’s attacks, even playing one-twos to take the team up the pitch.
But whilst that’s impressive, what is arguably more impressive is how solid he’s looked in defence, too. Sometimes you get a player who is silky but not solid, Matip looks like being both. A real find.
Dejan Lovren
After a big black eye kept Dejan Lovren out of the Leicester game, it looks like he might make his return to the starting lineup against Chelsea on Friday night.
The Croatian defender has been at the club for a while now, but he’s always looked just a little bit clumsy. This season, as Liverpool’s defence has been leaky, he’s been around again, but what’s interesting is that Liverpool have looked quite good in most games so far.
The problem for the team is that although they’re scoring goals and conceding them, it’s the performances in the midfield that have won them games. If they can tighten up at the back, Liverpool could be on for a very good season!
James Milner
Left back is Liverpool’s problem position. After the erratic performances of Alberto Moreno, Jurgen Klopp is turning to his most reliable performer to dig his team out of a hole.
And James Milner has been excellent at full back, as it happens. His in built ability to be disciplined and steady makes him a good defender, even if he’s not going to be positionally aware for a whole season at full back. But his natural ability as a midfielder and a winger make him good on the ball and a great option for his teammates.
But his natural ability as a midfielder and a winger make him good on the ball and a great option for his teammates.
Jordan Henderson
Liverpool’s captain is a man who really should be a Jurgen Klopp favourite. Jordan Henderson’s passion and willingness to run is something that must really speak to the manager, and his performances so far this season have been very good.
Liverpool’s midfield has been powerful and persistent this season, and able to overpower other midfielders. It will be interesting to see how well they do against N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic.
Adam Lallana
Adam Lallana seems to have transformed from a 75-minute man into a man to play the full 90 for the Reds.
Over his last three games – including England’s victory over Slovakia where he scored in the 95th minute – Lallana has played every minute, and it doesn’t seem to have changed him too much. His game is still high energy and creative. It’s a perfect combination for him, but he’s changed from being a wide player in a 4-2-3-1 to a scurrier and creator in a midfield three. It suits him.
It’s a perfect combination for him, but he’s changed from being a wide player in a 4-2-3-1 to a scurrier and creator in a midfield three. It suits him.
Georginio Wijnaldum
In the more open games this season, Georginio Wijnaldum has looked like quite a player. He’s strong and agile, and his gymnastics background shows through.
As part of Liverpool’s hard-working, intensely pressing midfield trio, he works well with the other two and helps Liverpool dominate the most important part of the pitch.
Philippe Coutinho
Liverpool’s creator in chief, Philippe Coutinho can score from distance and pick a perfect pass.
It’s telling though that Jurgen Klopp has kept Coutinho out of that midfield three behind him. He’s the perfect number 10 in this Liverpool team in that there are three hard-working players behind him, but that allows him to drift wide and into space.
From here he can see the game and boss it.
Sadio Mane
The width in the team comes from Sadio Mane, who floats around and finds space. On the counter attack, he is one of the most dangerous players in the league. And against Chelsea this Friday, his form, his pace and his directness could be a horrible combination for Gary Cahill and the newly-signed David Luiz to deal with.
Roberto Firmino
If Daniel Sturridge starts up front, Liverpool might have a problem. With Sturridge in the team, you always get the feeling that Liverpool are carrying a passenger, albeit a passenger who can always get you a goal.
Against the bigger teams, though, Jurgen Klopp will surely opt for the hard-working Roberto Firmino in the striker’s role, and against Chelsea – a team who will play with an intensity to make life difficult for Liverpool’s midfield – Firmino would be the perfect option.
Also bear in mind the injury to John Terry: David Luiz may have to start this game at centre back, and although he’s probably not as comical a defender as many in England think he is, putting him under pressure when he’s on the ball could make for an uncomfortable night for the Brazilian.