[lfc-news] Mark Lawrenson column - Post

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Liverpool Daily POst, 26 April 2005
Why I fancy Liverpool to win... well, more so than last time anyway
By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

AT STAMFORD Bridge tomorrow, I think a lot of Chelsea players will be
seeing red - not because they'll do a Gary Neville, but because
Liverpool players will be all over them.

Let's not forget that this is a Chelsea team who have stuck four goals
past Barcelona and Bayern Munich in their last two home Champions League
ties.

However the difference between those games and tomorrow night's is that
Liverpool will set themselves up to be difficult to break down, whereas
the Spaniards and Germans tried to take Chelsea on.

Quite simply, with the attacking players Chelsea have got, if you try to
out-football them, then you will lose.

Frank Lampard, Damien Duff, Joe Cole and Arjen Robben are fantastic
individuals capable of changing the game, and most of Chelsea's
attacking play comes through them.

As you will have noticed, they are all attacking midfielders, and that
means the most important area on the pitch will be between Liverpool's
defence and midfield.

That will be where Chelsea try to weave their intricate passing
patterns, and that is where Liverpool must establish the upper hand.

That is why I believe Rafael Benitez's tactical plan will be to flood
this area with players to try and shut down Chelsea's key operators.

Of course, that is easier said than done, and just like in their other
away ties in the Champions League this season, Liverpool must also look
to carry a goal threat and keep hold of the ball when they get it.

That is where Xabi Alonso comes in, because he has real class in
possession. I would also pick out Luis Garcia as another one of
Liverpool's potential gamebreakers.

That may surprise a few people given some of the criticism I dished out
in his direction earlier this season, but I not ashamed to say he has
proven me wrong.

As time has gone on he has understood more and more what is expected of
him and what Benitez wants from him too.

Some of the goals he has scored lately have been top class and he is now
someone his team-mates look to to make things happen, not as someone
with a few flicks and tricks in his armoury and nothing else.

If Liverpool can get back to Anfield with the aggregate score still
level or with just the odd goal difference, then they may have to change
their tactics there.

Either way, I fancy Liverpool to beat Chelsea more than I did to get
past Juventus. Of course, a tip from me may be the kiss of death, so
I'll stick with the formula that worked in the last round, and get my
knife and fork ready for another slice of humble pie.

LEAVING the Chelsea game aside, I bet Rafael Benitez can't wait for the
summer - because he will have a long shopping list to take to the sales.

As the Crystal Palace game showed, Liverpool's squad is still not strong
enough and I would expect them to strengthen in every area. Only when he
does that will Benitez be able to rest players with any confidence.

And only then will Liverpool eradicate the type of 1-0 frustrating
defeats they have suffered from much too often this season.

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