This Saturday, Liverpool and Chelsea fans will pack Wembley for the final of the oldest footballing competition in the world - the FA cup. Liverpool has won the FA cup 7 times, while the Stamford Bridge outfit have won 6 times. Both teams rested key players in their respective midweek fixtures and will be looking to play their strongest available XI on Saturday.
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Predicted line-ups
Chelsea - I expect Chelsea to line up in a 4-3-3. The backline will consist of Bosingwa, Terry, ivanovic and Cole. The midfield will comprise of Meireles, Lampard and Ramires. Drogba, Sturridge (NOT Mikel, Mr. Uday Jhala - as Mikel cannot play out wide) and Mata will be the attacking options.
Liverpool - Enrique, Carragher, Agger and Johnson will be the four in the back. Gerrard, Henderson and Spearing will match the Chelsea midfield. Bellamy, Downing and Suarez will play up-top.
Analysis
Chelsea definitely have a height advantage, as Liverpool's forward line-up (minus Carroll, of course) is not very good in the air. However, I do not see that as a problem for Liverpool, as King Kenny tends to play through the middle anyway. Both teams will rely heavily on their full backs to provide overlapping runs. In Carragher and Agger, Liverpool have the perfect central defenders to nullify the in-form Drogba. They are both good in the air and very hard to push off the ball. However, they are not particularly quick, so I expect Torres to have an impact coming off the bench.
Torres will be playing against his old club and will be hoping to continue the good form he has shown of late. An interesting match up will be Mata against Johnson. While Johnson is really good going forward, he can be suspect on defensive positions. Similarly, Mata is known to switch off when opposing full-backs are making overlapping runs. I predict that at least one goal will involve the brilliance/fault of the duo. DiMatteo will be also hoping that young Sturridge tracks back the overlapping runs of Liverpool's signing of the season - Luis Enrique.
Readers of the blog will know that I'm a big fan of Craig Bellamy. I think he might trouble Bosingwa. Bosingwa is a very quick full back, but he struggles against players who cut inside. Bellamy will cut-in towards the middle, onto his favored right food, and try to unleash some shots at goal. In accordance with that, the overlapping Enrique will be constantly looking for the reverse ball from Bellamy into space.
Tactical surprises
1. Either manager could possibly switch to a 4-4-2. But, especially in Chelsea's case, I find that nearly impossible unless they are down a goal.
2. Play Ramires on the wing - drop Sturridge to the bench - play Mikel in the middle. Mikel, had an excellent couple of games against Barcelona. But, I consider this to be unlikely as Ramires' thrusting runs from midfield are an x-factor that would be lost if he were to be played on the wing. I certainly cannot see Meireles being dropped for Mikel.
3. Start Torres instead of Drogba. Torres started the mid-week game, suggesting that the Ivorian striker would be preferred at the weekend. But, just perhaps, RDM is trying to throw off Dalglish's tactical prediction; playing Torres against Carragher would be fun to watch (as a United fan at least). But, I personally think it will be more likely that Drogba will soften the defenders up for 65 minutes before El Nino comes on.
Prediction
The game will end 1-1. And Chelsea will win on penalties. I must admit, the thought of John Terry lifting any sort of trophy makes me want to gag. But, I would not begrudge him that because it would mean that Meireles, Ramires and Ivanovic would be involved in winning a final this year.
Also - I predict both United and City will win this weekend. City will win comfortably despite Newcastle's form of late. Sigh.
Predicted line-ups
Chelsea - I expect Chelsea to line up in a 4-3-3. The backline will consist of Bosingwa, Terry, ivanovic and Cole. The midfield will comprise of Meireles, Lampard and Ramires. Drogba, Sturridge (NOT Mikel, Mr. Uday Jhala - as Mikel cannot play out wide) and Mata will be the attacking options.
Liverpool - Enrique, Carragher, Agger and Johnson will be the four in the back. Gerrard, Henderson and Spearing will match the Chelsea midfield. Bellamy, Downing and Suarez will play up-top.
Analysis
Chelsea definitely have a height advantage, as Liverpool's forward line-up (minus Carroll, of course) is not very good in the air. However, I do not see that as a problem for Liverpool, as King Kenny tends to play through the middle anyway. Both teams will rely heavily on their full backs to provide overlapping runs. In Carragher and Agger, Liverpool have the perfect central defenders to nullify the in-form Drogba. They are both good in the air and very hard to push off the ball. However, they are not particularly quick, so I expect Torres to have an impact coming off the bench.
Torres will be playing against his old club and will be hoping to continue the good form he has shown of late. An interesting match up will be Mata against Johnson. While Johnson is really good going forward, he can be suspect on defensive positions. Similarly, Mata is known to switch off when opposing full-backs are making overlapping runs. I predict that at least one goal will involve the brilliance/fault of the duo. DiMatteo will be also hoping that young Sturridge tracks back the overlapping runs of Liverpool's signing of the season - Luis Enrique.
Readers of the blog will know that I'm a big fan of Craig Bellamy. I think he might trouble Bosingwa. Bosingwa is a very quick full back, but he struggles against players who cut inside. Bellamy will cut-in towards the middle, onto his favored right food, and try to unleash some shots at goal. In accordance with that, the overlapping Enrique will be constantly looking for the reverse ball from Bellamy into space.
Tactical surprises
1. Either manager could possibly switch to a 4-4-2. But, especially in Chelsea's case, I find that nearly impossible unless they are down a goal.
2. Play Ramires on the wing - drop Sturridge to the bench - play Mikel in the middle. Mikel, had an excellent couple of games against Barcelona. But, I consider this to be unlikely as Ramires' thrusting runs from midfield are an x-factor that would be lost if he were to be played on the wing. I certainly cannot see Meireles being dropped for Mikel.
3. Start Torres instead of Drogba. Torres started the mid-week game, suggesting that the Ivorian striker would be preferred at the weekend. But, just perhaps, RDM is trying to throw off Dalglish's tactical prediction; playing Torres against Carragher would be fun to watch (as a United fan at least). But, I personally think it will be more likely that Drogba will soften the defenders up for 65 minutes before El Nino comes on.
Prediction
The game will end 1-1. And Chelsea will win on penalties. I must admit, the thought of John Terry lifting any sort of trophy makes me want to gag. But, I would not begrudge him that because it would mean that Meireles, Ramires and Ivanovic would be involved in winning a final this year.
Also - I predict both United and City will win this weekend. City will win comfortably despite Newcastle's form of late. Sigh.
