The week nine star match of the English Premiership played last Sunday at Stamford Bridge will remain a food for thought to football watchers world-wide.
Apart from the fact that the match expressed sadness and joy, it will continue to give concern to the fans of Liverpool and especially Chelsea fans.
For Chelsea’s fans, management and players, they will be sad whenever they remember that match while Liverpool’s supporters will be happy for good reasons.
Chelsea’s followers will not be happy because they have not been beaten at Stamford Bridge for four and half years. The Blues have not lost to any English Premiership team in 87 matches.
When Jose Mourinho was manager of the West London team, he never lost to Liverpool and other big clubs as Manchester United and Arsenal at home. Then, Chelsea’s fans revered him and called him Master of the Game (MOG). He actually demonstrated it during his tenure as manager of the club. That defeat may have reminded them about Monrinho and wished he should return as manager.
In as much as the Liverpool’s management, manager, Rafael Benitez, players and supporters are concerned, they have achieved a great deal for defeating Chelsea at home.
Inded! They should be happier for breaking Chelsea’s unbeaten run in 87 matches and in the last four and a half years in their home at Stamford Bridge.
Again, Chelsea’s loss last Sunday have also spoilt the Brazilian manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s record so far in the season. Under Scolari, the club had before the last match played eight games out of which they won six and drew two.
Of course, that match may have reminded fans particularly Chelsea’s supporters about Didier Drogba who is presently nursing injury. The Ivorien can be remembered for being one man riot squad for Chelsea.
Last season, through Drogba’s effort, Chelsea defeated Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, beating the latter 2 – 1 at the same venue. Drogba scored the two goals. This was after he had succeeded in canceling Liverpool’s only goal. Liverpool had scored first in that match.
Unfortunately history could not repeat itself last Sunday even as the players could not re-enact that same feat which enabled them to triumph then.
Perhaps, Chelsea might want to revenge when they get to Anfield for the reverse fixture. That they will succeed depends on how well they play in that match.
But one has observed that Chelsea appears to be adopting Samba style of play.
Whenever they go close to the opponents’ vital area, they do not take shots the way they used to do under Jose Mourinho.
The reasons are obvious; they are being tutored by a Brizilian manager who may have introduced the Samba techniques.
In whatever way any keen football follower looks at it, Liverpool is on fire in the present season so far.
They are right now topping the table with 23 points. Liverpool have done what they did to Chelsea to Manchester United, beating them 2 –1 in the Week Four match at Anfield. Whether, they will be able to do same in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford remains an issue that will be difficult to tell.
However, Liverpool’s victory over Chelsea also suggests that Rafael Benitez and his wards are seriously itching to win the current season’s shield.
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