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Liverpool vs Chelsea Today

Well it doesn’t get much bigger than this for the opening day of the season and of course, I’m not going to be around to witness it (though I’ll be tracking it by mobile the whole way through the 90 minutes, keeping up via radio and SMS).

Thanks to the Champions League qualifiers last week the West Ham game that was originally set for the opening Anfield clash of the season was moved meaning we host Chelsea this afternoon and there really is no better way to start off. Bad blood has been building between Chelsea and Liverpool over the past few seasons, thanks largely in part to Liverpool gaining the upper hand repeatedly over Chelsea in the Champions League, Luis Garcia ruining things for Jose Mourmoanio and of course that terrific win in January of this year.

As with every Liverpool match there’s no promises being made about who will be starting up front and it wouldn’t surprise me if Benitez opts for Kuyt and Crouch to start up front with Torres getting introduced in the second half while I would expect Ryan Babel to be making his Anfield debut today with both Yossi Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant finding time on the pitch, Pennant having a decent performance record against Chelsea.

Steven Gerrard is set to play through the pain barrier as well after fracturing a toe against Toulouse while on the Chelsea side of the fence it looks like John Terry will return to the squad, both captains being risked in today’s clash.

Chelsea haven’t lost in the league since the defeat at Anfield last year and have also won five of their six league games in the Mourinho era against Liverpool. BBC are great for facts like that. One fact that isn’t mentioned though is that both sides are changed teams and a much stronger Liverpool who showed no real signs of stuttering in pre-season are on home soil. Not to put the ball in Chelsea’s court or anyuthing but on a whole I think they’re at a disadvantage starting off today at Anfield.

Spirits are supercharged at Liverpool and there’s been a great “fear no one” attitude building of late. With the bulk of the squad and new signings on full fitness, barring Steven Gerrard, Liverpool have the extra depth and strength needed to make certain of a victory today. Whether we’re in for a goal fest or a hard slog to get a 1-0 victory I’m calling on a Liverpool home win today to really throw the gauntlet down to both Chelsea and Man United.

For the sake of building up steam at the start of the season it needs a serious doing.

Kick off is in just over 90 minutes time, coverage on Setanta, Sky and LiverpoolFC.tv (audio).

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