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| Yer shoulda stayed at a big club, staaaayed at a biiig club!... |
After beating Chelsea 2-1 on their own turf last weekend, Liverpool will surely be brimming with confidence. The only problem is, when this fixture came out, Kenny Dalglish was livid at it's proximity to the big Man City game on Sunday, at the time Dalglish told travelling fans to expect a youthful side but will he now after ceasing his chance in the league play a side with a bit more experience?
Jamie Carragher immediately is somebody he could throw on to add in that experience as the defender has been on the bench for the last two games so requires no rest. Dalglish if we're looking at players not regularly utilised also has the likes of Spearing, Kelly, then looking even further down the youth system players like Coady and Suso.
I personally agree with what Dalglish is saying but i don't think he will field a completely changed side because this is too good a chance to miss.
Steven Gerrard is still unavailable for Liverpool but Craig Bellamy will return after missing the City game for personal reasons.
Chelsea have problems not with injuries but suspensions and cup ties meaning that John Terry and Raul Meireles are unavailable.
The last time these two sides met in the League Cup was in December 2007. Once again it was at the Bridge but Chelsea got the better of the Reds and were 2-0 winners.
Liverpool's overall record at the Bridge is a decent one, losing once in their last five visits, drawing once and victorious in the other three fixtures.
Stat Sandwich:
- This is the Reds 7th away game in the League Cup out of their last eight ties.
- If Chelsea win it will be their 11th time in the League Cup semi finals.
- (You should already know this! But...) Liverpool are the most successful team in the League Cup winning it a record 7 times.
Cup games are always tough to predict but after a solid performance against them last week, whoever Dalglish fields i think we have the mentality to go down there and knock them out. Chelsea haven't been brilliant of late and we've shown how we're not afraid to take the game to them at the Bridge.
I'm going to punt for another 2-1 victory for Liverpool, here's hoping we can get ourselves a place in the semi finals!
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May i just take this opportunity to pay my respects to Gary Speed. A wonderful footballer and a lovely man, my thoughts go out to his family and all who knew him. #YNWA