Champions League
2008-04-30 - Chelsea vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Chappers
- Champions League Semi Final - 2nd Leg -
Stamford Bridge
30th April 2008 KO 19.45PM (live on Sky)
First leg drawn 1-1
Chelsea (2nd EPL)
Played 36 with 81 points
Seems like all I’m doing at the moment is writing previews for Chelsea and I have to be honest, I do wonder which Chelsea will turn up this evening as the one that I watched on Saturday bore no relation to the team that drew at home to Wigan a couple of weeks ago.
Anyway with the win at home to Manchester United, Chelsea have moved onto the same points as United and given themselves a chance of the title, but with the much better goal difference the ball is still in the hands of United.
As for the Champions League I did enjoy the first leg between these two (even if I did have Liverpool to win). To be fair I don’t think the first leg will have all that much of a baring on this game, as it now is well and truly a one of game and winners will take all. Chelsea of course have the away goal so a goalless draw will do them and see them go through, but I very much doubt this game will end goalless.
I'm not saying that it will be a goal feast but I do think that this game could produce some goals, as Liverpool must score and I think they will, so by default this will mean that Chelsea will also have to put the ball in net. Chelsea has the home advantage and that vital away goal and this is a godsend for them.
Liverpool (4th EPL)
Played 36 with 70 points
Liverpool can still catch Arsenal in the league and if the Champions League comes to an end in this game, then that will be the only real goal for Liverpool so this game at Stamford Bridge becomes the most important game for Liverpool this season.
After the last minute own goal which saw Chelsea snatch a draw and as I’ve already said the vital away goal, it does mean that Liverpool have to score if they want to go through and as such Rafa will be sticking a team out with this in mind.
Liverpool (unlike Chelsea) managed to rest players at the weekend as they drew away at Birmingham, so you would think that they will be the fresher of the two teams, but I know this may seem silly but I think the pressure could be on Liverpool for this game and while of course it is a massive game for Chelsea, I just think for a while now Liverpool have had all their eggs in this basket and failure now will hit hard.
I've already said that this game could have goals and for me it will be Liverpool who will push this game as they will need to score at least once if they want to progress.
Verdict
Not one of the best previews I've ever done but I have to say there isn’t much more I can say about these two that wasn’t said last week when the two teams met.
As for this game I do think that it's hard to call and have decided that I’m got going for a win in 90mins as I can see this going all the way to maybe even penalties, but I'd think that Chelsea will be in the final in May and as such will be backing them to make it at a nice 1.53
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Chelsea to Qualify for the final
