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Chelsea will entertain Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi finals 2nd leg at Stamford Bridge. Highlights and video of the Chelsea v Liverpool tie at Goalcentre.com

Ok we have Manchester United in Moscow for this year UEFA Champions League finals as Manchester United defeated Barcelona 1-0 last night.

Let’s shift our attention to Chelsea v Liverpol 2nd leg UEFA Champions League semi finals. First leg score: 1-1

Without wasting time, the Chelsea v Liverpool preview by Blue Champions.

I’ve never been this nervous before a match in many months. Probably I won’t be so nervous even for the finals of the champions league (if we reach). The fact that we have that away goal and that we have the upper hand in fact makes me restless instead of comforting me.

Arsenal dropped the premier league title because they were on top for too long a time. I know this is a strange theory but that’s what I think. If there were always two or three points behind the leaders, they could have done better. Man Utd dropped their lead due to complacency. Being at the top, there is always either complacency or pressure, that we need to manage.

I strongly believe that Liverpool will be stronger than Man Utd at Stamford Bridge. Firstly, Liverpool has only champions league to play for, as it has been for many seasons. Secondly, Liverpool have rested many of their key players to be ready for this match. Thirdly, Rafa cannot afford to make any costly tactical errors as Sir Alex did. It’s now all or nothing for Rafa.

The tactics that both teams will adopt for this match is going to be extremely crucial. Very rarely, the results of Chelsea vs Liverpool matches are determined by individual moments of brilliance. In Chess parlance, Liverpool will play white and Chelsea will play black. Of course, both play to win but naturally white will try to make the first assault which black has to withstand and hit back.

I won’t be surprised if Rafa pairs Crouch and Torres upfront. This pair would trouble the Chelsea centre backs like no other pair has done in this season. But this would mean that Liverpool cannot have a crowded midfield which has been effective for them in the big games. Given the fact that they are chasing us for a result and not the other way round, I expect Rafa to play 4-4-2 only.

Expect Liverpool to attack. The worst case scenario for them is to concede a goal in the process of their attacks. One goal is still fine for them as long as they get theirs some way down the line. When it comes to European games, Liverpool are mentally stronger. They completely switch their minds to the game on hand, forgetting about their league disappointments and the prospects of winning the champions league. They would be fighting for every ball and surely give us a run for our money. As long as they have not scored a goal, I don’t expect them to play with slow tempo.

From our side, once again I expect a 4-4-2. We played 4-3-3 in the previous leg and were owned by Liverpool midfield. Of course we contained Gerrard but on the whole they were able to create chances quite easily. I want to see a 4-man midfield. Drogba can pair up with Shevchenko while Ballack, Mikel, Essien and Joe Cole will be in the midfield. Back four would be Carvalho, Terry, Ferreira and Ashley Cole. Shevchenko played about 15 minutes against Man Utd and I was impressed with the little he could do. He held the ball well, dribbled confidently, even shot once and finally that superb goal line clearance. He is sharp enough to be given a chance at this stage.

I wouldn’t play Lampard in this match. I know that he has resumed training but I think he’d need more time to sort things out personally. If we lead 2-0 by 80 minutes, then I might bring him on to give him the pleasure of being on the pitch when Chelsea goes to the finals of the champions league for the first time.

A goalless first half would be more uncomfortable for Grant than for Rafa. If at all Liverpool do score, I hope it is early enough so that we get our time to equalise. No matter what Liverpool does, all that we need is an early goal. Something within 20 or 30 minutes.

One thing I don’t want to see is being overaggressive. I would say Liverpool is the most cunning team in terms of how they take their chances. It would be very amateurish to see us trying to boss over them in the initial 15 minutes only to find out that they’ve got their own goal somehow. This time they are perfectly capable of scoring a goal at Stamford Bridge, a feat they have not achieved for many years.

Chelsea’s win over Man Utd at the Bridge must have surely made the scousers uncomfortable. That match was a reassertion that Stamford Bridge is truly a fortress that opponents should be wary and scared of. Last season, in the champions league semi finals against Liverpool at the Bridge, we simply outplayed them, and drove them all over the park. We should have finished 3-0 but poor finishing and bad luck meant just a 1-0 which proved insufficient later on. I just need a repeat of that performance tomorrow, even the same result would do.

I’ve got some more to write but I gotta run. Quick prediction: Chelsea to reach the finals of the champions league with a strong performance but with a 1-0 result.

So what’s your prediction people? Blue or Red?

1st Half Highlights

2nd Half Highlights

Extra Time Highlights

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