Liverpool, Chelsea must rotate intelligently for Carabao Cup clash

Ahead of Liverpool’s third round Carabao Cup clash against Chelsea, we take a look at the key tactical issues that might define the game.

For anyone affiliated with either Chelsea or Liverpool, the third round of the Carabao Cup must have felt like a particularly cruel stage to bring together two of England’s most decorated clubs.

It complicates the team selection of both managers, who surely would have liked to use the early rounds of this competition to give a run out to their squad players.

Not this time. History tells us that to disrespect the cup is to exit the cup. Chelsea’s 5-1 demolition of a severely depleted Manchester City side in 2016 is more than ample evidence. Neither Jurgen Klopp nor Maurizio Sarri will endure such humiliation.

After all, they resume battle just three days later. It would be far from wise to whet the opposition’s appetite. And, perhaps more importantly, to underline any glaring weaknesses ahead of what is arguably a more significant fixture. Expect nothing more than a sprinkle of rotation to accompany the pedigree.

That said, it’s clear where the game might be won and lost — Liverpool’s blistering attack against Chelsea’s unconvincing backline. The pace, skill and prolificacy of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino is a frightening proposition for any backline, let alone one seemingly yet to find its feet.

Sarri has made no secret of his side’s defensive lapses. Nor does he need to – they’re obvious. And, worryingly for Chelsea, there are few more daunting venues to head to with an unreliable defense than Anfield.

Admittedly, this appears the most likely pattern for the game to take. Nonetheless, it would be wrong to reduce the contest to a matter of Liverpool attack vs. Chelsea defense. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine the London club not landing a few punches of their own.

They possess, in Eden Hazard, perhaps the form player in Europe, unleashed by the progressive, forward thinking, possession based Sarrismo. With Willian at his side, and Olivier Giroud’s neat, defense-splitting flicks, Liverpool are expected to endure a tough defensive test.

With reports indicating Klopp will start Simon Mignolet in goal and Dejan Lovren in defense, Chelsea will be hopeful of exposing some of the defensive frailties Liverpool seem to have overcome this season.

Yet for all the hype surrounding the players at both ends of the pitch, what occurs in the middle will be just as important. It is in this domain where Chelsea have revised their approach most significantly.

Securing Jorginho, Sarri’s on-field conductor, has transformed Chelsea into one of Europe’s top possession-orientated sides. Taken as a whole this change is positive, but within the immediate context, it might just play into Liverpool’s hands.

Few press and unsettle in the middle of the park better than Liverpool. Expect some combination of James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and possibly Fabinho, who is yet to start a match this term, to press Chelsea’s middle three high and aggressively, aiming to rob the ball and feed the front three.

As ever, there are ways around this. It all depends on Jorginho. Everything goes through him. If the Italian is swarmed, unsettled and flustered by the pressure, Chelsea will crumble.

But if Jorginho can break the press with his characteristically crisp, incisive passes through the lines, then openings shall present themselves for Hazard and co. Whether he can, though, is another matter entirely.

Ultimately, the smart money is on Liverpool. Chelsea have started brightly and arguably have greater pedigree, but as Sarri reminded us at the weekend, they remain a year behind their opponents. Liverpool’s attack, midfield and defense are performing as a more cohesive, stable, and dangerous unit. Throw in the deafening Anfield crowd, and the odds are stacked against Chelsea.

Styles will be crucial. Combative, deep defending sides tend to stifle Liverpool. Just look at how Chelsea and United blunted their advances last season. There exists a worry for Chelsea, therefore, that the new, more expansive and yet-to-be-perfected philosophy under Sarri is just what Liverpool’s pressing game thrives on.

For the neutral this is nothing short of good news. Two top, attack-minded sides often produces high-octane, goal-stuffed encounters. Expectation quite rightly lies with Liverpool, but expectation and reality are two very different things.