lankyguy007Liverpool and Chelsea set out exactly how I predicted. I expected Chelsea to set out in the diamond formation and therefore us to combat them with the formation shown. I made a few mistakes on players but the truth is that Dalglish got his team selection dead right.

Chelsea played a similar formation to what Ancelotti often played at Milan. A narrow 4-4-2 diamond in midfield with Anelka playing the 'Kaka' role. The truth is that Liverpool got their tactics spot on. Lucas was pretty much man of the match especially at the end making some great interceptions in the middle of the park. Chelsea's only width came from the full backs and they were matched well by Johnson and Kelly. Whenever Drogba and Torres went wide, Carragher and Agger were always happy to follow them under the assurance that Skrtel was spare in the middle.

Each Chelsea midfielder was matched by one from Liverpool and as a result there were not many clear cut chances in the game. But Liverpool were the ones who kept their nerve and after the goal defended brilliantly. Kalou came on and Chelsea changed to a more familiar 4-3-3 but Liverpool's wing backs simply moved back and made sure that they weren't going to concede.

10.02.2011