Our next game is up against Champions League winners in the UEFA Super Cup. They won their first Premier League game comfortably against Norwich City 4-1. Liverpool is a team that is now used to destroying opposition defense while being rock solid at the back. A very tough game for Chelsea who didn’t get the result the fans wanted against Manchester United. Even though there were many positives from the Chelsea performance but still there are gaps that need to be filled.

Firstly let's oversee how we played in our previous game against United. We started the game really well. Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham made their PL debuts for Chelsea, and both of them looked really solid but they are still in their early days. Pedro had an off day. Barkley played like how he did last year, moving the ball very slowly, playing safe balls to his team-mates. Both the central midfielders Jorginho and Kovacic had really good games but there were certain occasions when they were a bit slow in

Firstly let's oversee how we played in our previous game against United. We started the game really well. Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham made their PL debuts for Chelsea, and both of them looked really solid but they are still in their early days. Pedro had an off day. Barkley played like how he did last year, moving the ball very slowly, playing safe balls to his team-mates. Both the central midfielders Jorginho and Kovacic had really good games but there were certain occasions when they were a bit slow in catching up with the pace of the Manchester United attack which later led to goals. Coming to the most important aspect which needs some improvement-THE DEFENSE. The system Frank Lampard has adopted which is high-press and attacking football tends to leave some gaps which were exploited. We as a team were really good with the ball but the players weren’t compact enough defensively when they lost the ball. This hit the team very hard because both of our full-backs along with both the central midfielders were so high up the pitch leaving us with just Zouma and Christensen at the back. Azpilicueta, as we all know, is declining should be used a centre-back rather than a right-back because of his inability to keep up with the wingers along with him not being good at crosses which are strongly needed in modern-day full-backs. The only way to counter this is by keeping one of the CM constantly dropping just ahead of the defense to give the protection the centre-backs. Hopefully with the comeback of Kante in the starting 11 that will be the case.

Firstly let's oversee how we played in our previous game against United. We started the game really well. Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham made their PL debuts for Chelsea, and both of them looked really solid but they are still in their early days. Pedro had an off day. Barkley played like how he did last year, moving the ball very slowly, playing safe balls to his team-mates. Both the central midfielders Jorginho and Kovacic had really good games but there were certain occasions when they were a bit slow in catching up with the pace of the Manchester United attack which later led to goals. Coming to the most important aspect which needs some improvement-THE DEFENSE. The system Frank Lampard has adopted which is high-press and attacking football tends to leave some gaps which were exploited. We as a team were really good with the ball but the players weren’t compact enough defensively when they lost the ball. This hit the team very hard because both of our full-backs along with both the central midfielders were so high up the pitch leaving us with just Zouma and Christensen at the back. Azpilicueta, as we all know, is declining should be used a centre-back rather than a right-back because of his inability to keep up with the wingers along with him not being good at crosses which are strongly needed in modern-day full-backs. The only way to counter this is by keeping one of the CM constantly dropping just ahead of the defense to give the protection the centre-backs. Hopefully with the comeback of Kante in the starting 11 that will be the case.

We face Liverpool next who are attacking force with the likes of Salah, Firmino, Mane along with a rock-solid centre-back Virgil Van Dijk with attack-minded full-backs Trent Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson. Liverpool have a fixed system of 4-3-3 and they play high press as well. Fabinho who’s a central defensive midfielder often becomes the third centre-back when Robertson and Trent are higher up the pitch which gives a lot of protection to their defense. They’ll be missing Allison Becker a lot for this game since he had a calf injury during the game against Norwich. Honestly speaking this game is very difficult seeing the quality of Liverpool.













Predicted 11 and tactics discussion:





























Chelsea have a massive task, we have to be very compact and defend well and hit them on the counter unlike how we played against United. Liverpool is a team that has tremendous goalscoring ability along with a solid defense, the only way we have a chance to be in the game is to defend in numbers and play via counter-attacks. Even though we’ll most probably start with a 4-2-3-1 formation our defensive shape could be very different. The RM, LM, CAM needs to come deep and help to defend in numbers just to stay in the game making it a midfield 5 and try to play long balls and the pace of Pulisic and Pedro during counter-attacks. To sum everything up we need to play 4-5-1 while defending just to keep things tight and stop their attacks.

























To sum everything up a very very difficult game for Chelsea. We need to be compact as a unit and be confident. On paper and by seeing both the teams' performances looks like Liverpool is going to win this game but football is a beautiful game which is full of surprises. Let's hope we put in a good performance. UP THE CHELS!!

















CHELSEA FC PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY:











· What was learnt from the defeat against Manchester United?





In terms of the defeat you always learn. More than the first 25 minutes, 45 60 minutes we controlled. The clear lesson is that if you make defensive mistakes against good teams it will cost you. They did so many good things in the game. There were lots of good things and that we can improve on them. We need to be much better in not committing errors that bring chances.





· Are you optimistic about tomorrow’s game?





I am optimistic because I believe in the players, I am very proud to be here. But I not the ability of the opposition. I believe in my players.





· What does the Super Cup mean?





It means a lot to the club. I lost two, one in poor circumstances, having won the Champions League and we were far off that game. We lost in Munich unfortunately, I believe. It is important to give everything to win it. It is another trophy for the club. But for the feeling that we can compete with Liverpool and go from there.





· Are more experienced players going to feature against Liverpool?









Kante was purely because he had an injury. I am very aware of how important he is. He picked up another small injury in the game, so we are assessing that. I pick the best team to win the game, regardless of age. Mount deserves his chance on merit, I won’t fear to play young players. In terms of how we set up, I really liked some of our aggressive off the ball work. We have to be adaptable and respect the strengths of our opponents. There may be subtle changes in our approach.





· What it a roller-coaster week, a lot like the Chelsea job?





I don’t think you can lay that to Chelsea, this is a good week to show it’s a rollercoaster, but I had that at Derby as well. I am prepared for that; it has been a week where a lot has happened. But I am ready for that and don’t fear that. We will see what it brings going forward.





· It must be hard losing a player like Hazard, how is Chelsea going to replace him?





I agree I was a huge fan of Hazard, one of the best in world football, over his time at Chelsea one of the most productive and a leader. You can’t replace him individually. But the good news and the positive news is that we have a group that can step up. The answer is that as a team we have to find a way to carry on. Hazard, Terry, Drogba, move on.









· Winning mentality





Chelsea have won a lot, it is hard to pinpoint what winning mentality is, for me it is about a spirit and a bond. I don’t want to give them the ultimatum that if tomorrow we lose then the winning mentality is gone.





· Team news and do you see a version of you in Mason Mount?





Kante has a small injury and I will make a decision with that with him. Willian and Rudiger are here and they are in different stages. Willian is not far from fit, to put him in a high-intensity match is tough. He will be working through this week on fitness. Tomorrow he will be on the bench.

Similarly, with Rudiger.

With Mason Mount, I don’t like to compare, particularly with myself, I can talk about him myself and he has a great work ethic and it’s important about how we want to play. Scoring goals, he will step up levels as he develops, I’m a huge fan of his.























