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Chelsea vs Liverpool (PL) Sun 4th May 16:30 GMT

Pool were not only on the beach, they rotated half of their first 11.
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And yet they still had 65% of the possession. Whilst the way we played was pretty much exactly how most Chelsea fans would want us to play, with quick moves in transition, I guarantee this was not in Maresca's game plan. This is the complete opposite of his wish for controlled, measured (slow) possession.

So a Liverpool team with wholesale changes and on the beach still controlled the game and arguably missed some absolute sitters. Most of these opportunities came about though due to our own sloppiness and poor decision making. Jackson was horrendous, again, and as great as Madueke was, his final ball remains frustratingly poor.

It was a great result and an example of the strength of will overcoming quality in some areas.

Notwithstanding any of these elements I thought that Lavia was outstanding, Palmer best player on the park and, despite the few lapses of concentration the whole defensive unit were good. Caciedo, Cucurella and Chalobah were great. Colwill had a good solid game and Sanchez didn’t take unnecessary risks.

If we had a striker that could properly lead a line we'd be a different team altogether.

 
When's he going to start ?
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I think Cueva gets a bad rep.

Although it isn't anywhere near perfect, I feel like the improvement in defending set pieces compared to last season is visibly clear. Especially for a squad as small as ours and with Disasi and Silva not in the backline anymore. Attacking set pieces is another issue entirely, but I like what I see on the defensive end when last season it felt like every cross would lead to a goal opportunity.

Hope it continues to improve.

 
Very important and impressive win by us yesterday. Just shows what this group of players can do.

I fully accept Liverpool might not have been at their best yesterday.

However, you can only play (and thankfully beat), what is in front of you.

 
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I think Cueva gets a bad rep.

Although it isn't anywhere near perfect, I feel like the improvement in defending set pieces compared to last season is visibly clear. Especially for a squad as small as ours and with Disasi and Silva not in the backline anymore. Attacking set pieces is another issue entirely, but I like what I see on the defensive end when last season it felt like every cross would lead to a goal opportunity.

Hope it continues to improve.
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Perhaps as a general point Sconnie, but to consistently overlook the only Liverpudlian threat from corners until he did, indeed put his head on one, was bordering on dereliction of duty for a guy whose sole responsibility is to organise the team to nullify the oppositions main threat. Putting Cucurella on Van Dijk for corners was the equivalent of us playing a hit us if you can game of red arse with them. Cucurella is short and feisty. Whilst feisty is great in open play, neither are good attributes when marking a 6 foot 4 danger man on a set piece.

 
Perhaps as a general point Sconnie, but to consistently overlook the only Liverpudlian threat from corners until he did, indeed put his head on one, was bordering on dereliction of duty for a guy whose sole responsibility is to organise the team to nullify the oppositions main threat. Putting Cucurella on Van Dijk for corners was the equivalent of us playing a hit us if you can game of red arse with them. Cucurella is short and feisty. Whilst feisty is great in open play, neither are good attributes when marking a 6 foot 4 danger man on a set piece.
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I'm not sure what the plan was with VVD as I recall Madueke marking him for the the attempt he had earlier in the 2nd half.

I think the team will progressively get better as a whole but on a squad building perspective I would like to add more aerial winners into the team. Huijsen is a good start given he has a better aerial duel % than both Chalobah and Colwill (hoping the latter improves with age) and take Jackson out of the XI with someone like Gyorkeres or Sesko, we'll see a jump in improvement.

Arsenal for example are being praised in the media for their set piece specialist, completely forgetting they are joint 16th in league foals conceded from set pieces. Despite almost their entire XI being over 6"0.

 
Yesterday's win was big.

Depending on the Forest result tonight we might only need to win 2 of the last 3 games.

And while Liverpool may have taken their eye off the ball by a few percent yesterday they still had to be beaten and kept quiet.

All the players except Nicolas "offside again" Jackson stepped up yesterday.

Hopefully this will give these players enough confidence to get over the line.

let's hope yesterdays victory also opens Maresca's eyes as well.

1 - we can compete when the handbrake comes off

2 - possession doesn't actually equate to control of a match as while we might have had less possession, we had more shots, over 3x more shots on target, a higher XG (stats that have a bit more meaning IMO) and even the good old eye test would tell anyone we deserved to win yseterday's match.

3 - allowing attacking overloads and more spur-of-the-moment movement and decisions can actually lead to positive results.

Newcastle will come at us in the next match, so like against Liverpool we need to be less frightened, but still vigilant, of what they can do but concentrate more on how we can hurt them at the other end of the pitch.

 
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Where are our gifs?
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I am stll celebrating
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The dressing room celebration make it look like we have already secured top 5.

Way over the top.

 
I had a fantastic day yesterday with my brother and Godson @Will M .

I thoroughly enjoyed the match, in particular because they had most of ball meaning that our lads could play the way they clearly want, ie, quick transitions and running at the opposition.

It was a joy to watch Caicedo and Lavia on the same pitch. Our future looks bright if we can keep them on the pitch together. I also enjoyed watching Noni and Cole. Finally excellent to see Trev anticipating the game very well.

Biggest disappointment was, of course, watching Jackson confirm, yet again, that he is far off being good enough for Chels, and looks increasingly unlikely to ever get there. Unfortunately he lacks understanding and intelligence, neither of which he looks likely to gain.

For the crime of not being good enough, I hope he dies a slow and painfull death - tomorrow.

 
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