Liverpool has dropped 3 huge points at home to Crystal Palace. City are 2 points ahead having played an extra game than us. We win today and we go back to the top. We win today and we go three crucial points ahead of Liverpool with only 6 games to go. Every game is a cup final now for the boys and Mikel.
Team News
Strange decision to start Zinchenko ahead of Kiwior, because Kiwior has been doing better than Zinni and one bad game doesn’t mean we are going to hamper his confidence. If it’s purely for rotational purpose, I can live with it. Gabriel Jesus makes his way into the starting XI with Rice anchoring the midfield alone with Havertz playing the more forward role today. Trossard starts today ahead of Martinelli whom I think will come-in at some point to give Saka some rest.
Frankly, I had hated the concept of playing Havertz as CF but he has been doing better up top than he does in midfield. Gabriel Jesus does the dirty work but is not as clinical in front as you would expect your CF to be. Trossard gives me some hope though.
Liverpool is suffering the way we did last season. One loss and everything has gone bonkers for them. They were unbeaten at home from god knows when, and suddenly Atlanta wins 3-0 and they can’t even keep Crystal Palace to a draw. City, on the other hand, have gone full beast mode.
We need to win today. At any cost. First, because Pep is not going to drop any points now and the only way we win the league is by winning all our games. Second, I hate Aston Villa.
Right, a very short one today. See you during the game.
Ambarish – you ‘here’ mate? Or still partying like it’s 1999?
not a fan of Marts becoming a second fiddle option, especially on a day when Chelsea is missing their two best RBs…Tross can’t provide the proper width, but he’s likely starting because he’s considered the most clinical option up front nowadays…hopefully Partey and Tomi perform well tonight and remain healthy
how apropos that he would score immediately upon me posting my above comments…please keep in mind I did say he was the most clinical option LOL
Great build up, great finish not great keeping.
Alpha Tross. Dead ringer for Paul Dickov and that CL referee strikes again.
TRVL
Mate tell me I’m not going to win the Euromillions on Friday or bang Margot Robbie!
Nasty challenge on Tomi there.
Chelsea is so injury depleted that they’re actually starting a back 4 who have never played together and have likewise made call-ups from the academy, which wouldn’t be so unusual if it weren’t for the fact that they started the season with an incredibly bloated roster
Havertz doing his usual deer in the headlights routine…nothing worse than having a Striker who fears having a go even in gift wrapped scenarios
TRVL
Can you imagine our season if we’d spent the money on Palmer instead of Havertz?
We could now be 2 – 1 down quite easily we need to focus because we were looking so dominant.
Getting a bit ragged – which takes some doing against this Chelsea.
Marc-frankly I can’t imagine a worse move, considering the potential implications both presently and in the future
TRVL
Really – not sure where you’re coming from on that one?
Christ
This could be 4 – 3.
Havertz shdve squared that. I hope we don’t regret these misses.
Bloody hell how is this only 1 nil?
I remember saying from the off that I greatly feared that very real possibility that the world’s most expensive DM was given assurances about playing higher up the pitch…some, not on here, said it was an absolutely ridiculous claim…if our future success is dependent upon a up front duo of Havertz and Rice you will find me hanging a the local bridge, which isn’t meant to be a negative commentary towards Rice, as he’s a brilliant DM
feared the NOT that
Marc-no fucking doubt, this could easily be a 5-4 scoreline by now
Marc-my earlier comment was about Havertz being the worst move, not Palmer, who’s been brilliant
sometimes there’s a little delay between postings, maybe it’s because I’m overseas
this match is so fucking weird that Ode actually contemplating shooting from distance with his right foot
TRVL
Makes more sense – Chelsea paid twenty something million less for Palmer than we paid for Havertz and look like they’ve got twice the player.
not sure if it’s the tactics, but Enzo has been a useless tool since arriving in the capital…he might be the closest comp to our little Havertz experiment
Marc-“twice the player” on his worst day
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone do what Havertz just did there???
I’m getting the feeling we’ve been duped.
Havertz isn’t Havertz – its Xhaka who’s had some kind of Bond film Blofeld plastic surgery and is playing in disguise.
Its the only logical conclusion.
the island of misfit Strikers on full display today
Marc-Xhaka would scratch his eyes out if he were required to wear that face on a full-time basis
Can we get Havertz off and put Martinelli through the middle.