Chelsea vs Liverpool Match Preview
Chelsea will play host to Liverpool in a high profile Carling Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
Both teams will enter this game on the back of a positive Premier League result over the past weekend. Chelsea returned to winnings ways by dispatching Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0, while Liverpool battled to a respectable 1-1 draw with league leading Manchester City.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas may be able to boost his own job security by staying on course to win a trophy, this match will also give Chelsea a chance to avenge their recent 2-1 Premier League defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
Chelsea captain John Terry is suspended for this game, while Raul Meireles is cup-tied after playing for Liverpool in earlier rounds.
Former Liverpool striker is expected to lead the Chelsea attack against his former club. Torres could be partnered in attack by Daniel Sturridge, who scored an extra-time winner against Everton in the last round of this competition.
Striker Craig Bellamy will return for Liverpool after sitting out last weekend due to the death of Gary Speed. Andy Carroll could partner Bellamy in the Reds attack, with veteran defender Jamie Carragher also expected to return.
It will be interesting to see what lineup Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish fields only two days after the 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester City. Earlier this month Dalglish expressed his anger at the scheduling of this game.
“It is disgraceful in this day and age that players are being asked to play a league game and then a quarter-final just 48 hours later,” Dalglish told BBC Sport. “The one thing I will say to our fans is to think carefully before buying tickets for the (Carling) Cup game.
Sebastian Coates, Martin Kelly and Maxi Rodriguez could all be called upon here by Dalglish after not featuring against City.