CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING PICK - LIVERPOOL F.C V CHELSEA F.C

Champions League

2008-04-22 - Liverpool F.C vs Chelsea F.C

A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser

Analysis:

Grant will be up against it as he faces the side that Chelsea has lost three times in semi-finals (the other being in the FA Cup in 2006) but above all will be up against a manager in Rafa Banitez who has guided Liverpool to the Champions League trophy in 2005 and guided them back into the final last season when they were beaten to A.C Milan.

When these two sides met in the semi-finals in 2005 it was a scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge before the matter was ended in the return leg by a highly disputed goal by Luis Garcia, which William Gallas had supposedly prevented from crossing the line. Last season Liverpool again triumph 4-1 on penalties after it was deadlocked 1-1 on aggregate with both sides winning their home matches 1-0.

Benitez rested a number of players in their last match against Fulham and still won by 2-0. As many as 8 players were rested against Fulham to ensure they would be fresh and ready to take on Chelsea. Players such as Jamie Carragher, Captain Steven Gerrad as well as Fernando Torres were given time to rest to be fully charged to play against Chelsea. Benitez will give the likes of Gerrard last minute fitness test as he is suffering from a neck injury while the likes of centre half Sami Hyppia as well as midfielder Javier Mascherano are expected to shake off injuries prior to kickoff.

Benitez has stated on record that Liverpool has an advantage as they have the “Anfield effect” where playing at home normally brings out the best in them, especially on European nights. Don’t forget Spanish striker Fernando Torres is never shy in scoring in big matches as he showed when he scored in the 4-2 win over Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Benitez record speaks for himself when he won the Champions League with Valencia and have brought Liverpool to two finals to date, winning one of it.

As for Grant, he will attempt to at least avoid defeat in this match as he knows that his side lost in their meeting with Chelsea at Anfield and then were beaten 4-1 on penalties, so he will try to bring the game back to Stamford Bridge where they are formidable there having not lost to English sides for four years there.

Chelsea will be hoping that their 1-0 win at Merseyside (against Everton) will be good enough to inspire their side to take on another Merseyside team in the form of Liverpool and get a result. But the Blues are set to miss the services of Ghanian Michael Essien who is suspended but will have Michael Ballack come in for him in midfield. Frank Lampard is uncertain to feature as his mother was taken serious ill and will not be rushed back by the Chelsea management. Didier Drogba resumed light training and has missed the last two games against Wigan as well as Everton and is not guaranteed to start here.

There has been rumours that he as well as Frank Lampard could move to Inter Milan to link up with former coach Jose Mourinho who is reportedly signed for Inter Milan in the summer.

Liverpool playing at home on European nights the advantage is definitely with them. And with the home side giving 1/4 ball away, if it ends in a draw then be prepared to lose half the stakes here.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Statistics :

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Take Liverpool to win this match.