Five Reasons Chelsea FC Can and Should Beat Liverpool FC
By Liam Price
Liverpool’s Inability to Defend
There is no hiding the fact that Liverpool have struggled with their pace as of late, the Christmas season proved to be a strenuous period for the first team. Again, as proved last week vs. Swansea, their defenders have had a rough go. Between the injuries and absences, Liverpool are starting to fall off the title chase. Interestingly enough, Liverpool actually have one save more than Chelsea (42 vs. 41) this season but still come in 17th in the league.
More from Playing for 90
- Alexia Putellas reaches 400 games with Barcelona
- Everything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’
- Barcelona put five past Real Betis
- Manchester City suffer but come away with win over West Ham
- Baffling Liga MX ruling strips Puebla of a hard-earned victory
According to Squawka, Liverpool have conceded 30 goals this season or roughly 1.23 goals/game. In comparison, Chelsea average 0.68 goals against per game. With Eden Hazard and Diego Costa firing on all-cylinders and Liverpool’s doubt in their first-choice goalkeeper, they have their work cut-out for them.
Adding to this list is the situation that Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool FC seem to find themselves in with Joel Matip. After claiming retirement from international football, Cameroon still added him to the squad heading into the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Matip decided that Premier League was more important and boycotted the tournament. As a result, Cameroon asked FIFA to potentially fine the club if he does play.
This decision obviously weighed on Klopp as Matip did not seem the field during the Swansea match and Liverpool subsequently lost. James Milner has taken like a fish to water in the position of left-back, but asking him to play as a central defender against the likes of Diego Costa… might be a bit too much.