Liverpool 1 - 2 Chelsea:::: Tisha-TOTO's post match analysis
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1) Chelsea - a form team:
Yesterday LFC played a small club which is currently in form. A typical feature of a small club is packing the bus when playing against strong opposition (am just echoing BR's outburst last season after LFC lost to a time-wasting and outrageously defensive Chelsea side as well as Pellegrini's similar lambasting against Chelsea earlier this season). One could see a sign of those Chelsea traits yesterday (despite their good form at present), particularly towards the match climax.
2) The goals:
LFC's 1st goal:
A marauding run from EC and....bang!.. he let fly. Excellent defending from Chelsea's backline (held their line up well....typical Mourinho) but the beauty of hitting the ball like what EC did is that the only thing defenders can do is put the bodies on the line.... and the ball can end up anywhere! LFC should be doing more of those strikes which they are not doing much at this moment. SG used to do it a lot in his old AM role. Coutinho has been trying but he needs to do it more often at Melwood first. Sturridge is another one doing it more often but he's not playing at the moment and we have no clue when he'll get back on the pitch....he might get injured again before kicking his first ball!
Chelsea's equalizer:
LFC's defensive frailties were on show here again: (a) after Mignolet clears the header, there are only SG & GJ in the 6-yard box to deal with the loose ball while Chelsea had 4 players there which included their defenders! Yaani inashangaza sana na kusikitisha mno.. (b) Mignolet is fully aware that he could be standing by the goal line yet he opts to hold the ball from Cahill instead of just punching it to safety....jamani!!!
Chelsea's winner:
One of the biggest strengths of Chelsea's attaching midfield players is their commitment to contribute to defensive duties. At LFC, with the exception of Sterling (whose bull-like strength is quite amazing considering his small frame), no one else appears to be taking this responsibility. Testimony to this is the way Coutinho was brushed aside in the build up to Chelsea's second and winning goal...kwa nini hata hakuvuta shati, bukta au hata kukwatua tu is beyond me!! BR needs to address this with his AMs.
3) My overall assessment:
If LFC can build on yesterday's performance which wasn't (relatively speaking) not all that bad, then I think they will soon return to their accustomed winning ways provided that BR always sends on the pitch the following first 11 (please challenge me):
Mignolet, GJ, J Enrique, Kolo (it's not by choice really but who else is there, Lovren? F...ck no!), MS, SG, JH, EC (the beast!), PC, RS, MB (stop-gap until the return of DS).
4) LFC player ratings (again, challenge me):
Mignolet (5.5), GJ (6.5), Moreno (5.5), Lovren (5.0), MS (7.0), SG (6.2), JH (6.0), EC (7.4), PC (7.5), RS (7.4), MB (5.5)
