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Chelsea-Manchester City Video

Sven hit for six by new-look Chelsea

The slumped shoulders and hangdog scowl of one first-half camera shot might not have suggested it, but Roman Abramovich received his first shot of the free-flowing entertainment he is demanding from his 'new way' Chelsea.

This was an exhilarating encounter: Chelsea powerful, coherent and swift in their attacking; Manchester City precise on the counter and real contenders for 45 minutes. If both defences were ragged and rarely capable of shutting opponents down, it only added to the enjoyment of a game that matched Avram Grant against form opposition for the first time since usurping Jose Mourinho last month.

That the Israeli triumphed so impressively could be attributed to the efforts of two of his predecessor's staunchest allies. Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were immense again, the midfielder central to the first three of Chelsea's goals, the forward driving home numbers two and three. While some wondered whether the betrayal of Mourinho would have come so early in the season had this pair been fit from the start of it, this was undoubtedly a day for Abramovich and Grant to savour.

'I smiled,' said Grant. 'I enjoyed it for the winning and the way of the winning. I enjoyed that we are in the middle of a process and we continue to do it step-by-step. Maybe today it was two steps.

'We have concentrated on attacking football, on how to move right, on how to behave right, how to get the best from the players and how to make them better. That's what we want from them, but I think it's more important that they ask it from themselves.'

Sven-Goran Eriksson enjoyed not a minute of it. 'I'm very disappointed,' said the City manager. 'It's the first time in my life that I lose 6-0 and I'm sure it's the first time for most of my players. I was very kind to Avram today. I didn't want to be that kind. I'm sure he will do well, but we made him and Chelsea better than they should be today; we were awful defending. It is a wake-up call for all of us.'

Henk ten Cate had spent much of his first week of hands-on training delivering a wake-up call of his own to the Chelsea squad. The £40,000-a-week 'assistant first-team coach' began riling them on Monday when he halted his first full session to chastise some for laughing. Matters worsened on Thursday when the Dutchman put the team through a full programme of sprinting, box-to-box running and a 10-versus-10 half-pitch game the morning after their Champions League victory over Schalke. This is a radical departure from Mourinho's calibrated regime, in which players engaged only in light sessions post-match.

How much smoother the regime change at City, where Eriksson has turned over half his playing staff, established an economical counterattacking style and guided the club to long-forgotten heights. His men started the stronger here, filtering the ball to Elano at every opportunity. Like much of the Premier League before him, John Obi Mikel struggled with the quick-witted Brazilian, hacking him down twice in early breaks. One of the playmaker's deft chips put Stephen Ireland free on goal where a too-delicate header was parried away; a thunderous 35-yard free-kick was wonderfully clawed out of the top corner by Petr Cech.

Between those opportunities, though, possession and pressure was mostly Chelsea's, their power regularly taking them to the edge of Hart's penalty area. After 16 minutes, Mikel combined with Lampard to release Michael Essien, who strode onwards, collected himself and dragged the ball low across Hart and in. A similar sally into the space between Micah Richards and Javier Garrido all but allowed Drogba to add a second. It was only a postponement.

Richards ill-advisedly wound up Lampard in a tangle for possession and, after both had been booked, Chelsea's captain extracted beautiful revenge. Collecting possession from Salomon Kalou 40 yards out and with his back to goal, the midfielder turned and spun a pass of forensic precision behind the City defence. Unlike his opponents, Drogba saw it coming and cantered on to strike through Hart's legs.

The game was now stretched and Kalou almost extended Chelsea's advantage. At the other end, Ireland was a foot away from reducing it when teed up by Garrido and Michael Johnson's quick interplay.

It was only an interlude. As Thaksin Shinawatra, the City owner, took his turn at looking glum, Drogba and Kalou worked Lampard into a shooting position and though Hart parried that effort away, the ball fell to Drogba to carry back across the area and wallop past the City goalkeeper in the 56th minute.

Unused to such deficits, the visitors continued to push forward, leaving larger and larger gaps for their opponents to exploit. After an hour, Drogba nodded Joe Cole into a particularly broad one and the right-winger ramped up the volume again. Kalou took the total to five from one fine Essien pass, Andriy Shevchenko made it six with another.

'Boring, boring Chelsea,' sang a contented home support still not ready to put Grant's name into voice. A few more of these and they just might.

Man of the match: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Preview: Liverpool-Chelsea

The Continuing Story

The season is only a week old and here we have the first collision between two of the big four, a showdown between two Premier League giants whose managers do not much like each other, and whose players have bucket loads to prove every time the two teams meet. And Liverpool seem to meet Chelsea very often.

The respective managers, Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho, took up their current posts in the summer of 2004. They are a couple of games into their fourth seasons with their clubs. And those seasons have been momentous.

Liverpool won the Champions League in Benitez's first season in charge, lost the League Cup final - to Chelsea - but finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League. In 2005-06 Liverpool won the FA Cup and improved to third in the League. Last season the Reds were back in the Champions League final but unable to improve on third place in the Premiership.

Chelsea's first season under Mourinho saw them follow their triumph over Liverpool in the League Cup final by walking away with the Premier League title - their first domestic championship for 50 years. In 2005-06 they retained that title with relative ease, but lost in the FA Cup semi-final - to Liverpool. Last season they were beaten to the league championship by Manchester United, but compensated for that by winning the League Cup and the FA Cup. They were, however, thwarted in the Champions League ambitions, losing on penalties in the semi-final - to Liverpool.

The destinies of the two clubs have been intertwined since the two adversaries from the Iberian peninsula arrived in England. Remarkably, Sunday's meeting will be the sixteenth between them in three years, and the seventh in the Premier League.

The head to head meetings to date between Rafa's Reds and Jose's Blues are as follows:

03 Oct 2004 (Prem) Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool (Joe Cole)
01 Jan 2005 (Prem) Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea (Joe Cole)
27 Feb 2005 (League Cup final) Liverpool 2-3 Chelsea aet (at Cardiff) (Riise, Nunez - Gerrard og, Drogba, Kezman)
27 Apr 2005 (Champions Lge sf:1) Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
03 May 2005 (Champions Lge sf:2) Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Luis Garcia)
28 Sep 2005 (Champions Lge Group G) Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
02 Oct 2005 (Prem) Liverpool 1-4 Chelsea (Gerrard - Lampard pen, Duff, Joe Cole, Geremi)
06 Dec 2005 (Champions Lge Group G) Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
05 Feb 2006 (Prem) Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool (Gallas, Crespo)
22 Apr 2006 (FA Cup sf) Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool (at Old Trafford) (Drogba - Riise, Luis Garcia)
13 Aug 2006 (Community Shld) Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool (at Cardiff) (Shevchenko - Riise, Crouch)
17 Sep 2006 (Prem) Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool (Drogba)
20 Jan 2007 (Prem) Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (Kuyt, Pennant)
24 Apr 2007 (Champions Lge sf:1) Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool (Joe Cole)
01 May 2007 (Champions Lge sf.2) Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Agger) (Liverpool won 4-1 on penalties)

Premier League : P6, Liverpool wins=1, Chelsea wins=5
Champions League : P6, Liverpool wins=2, Chelsea wins=1, draws=3
FA Cup : P1, Liverpool wins=1
League Cup : P1, Chelsea wins=1
Community Shld : P1, Liverpool wins=1

Overall, Chelsea have won seven of the clashes, Liverpool five, and three have been drawn. The Reds have also won a penalty shoot-out. However while Liverpool have had the better of cup ties, Chelsea have dominated in the Premiership, winning five of the six meetings to date.

The only defeat Chelsea have suffered against Liverpool in the League during the last three seasons was in January when the Reds triumphed 2-0 at Anfield. Chelsea also lost at Anfield in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in May. Those two set-backs on Merseyside are Chelsea's only defeats during 2007. Of their last 46 competitive matches, Chelsea have lost just two - both to Liverpool at Anfield (though they also lost on penalties to Manchester United in the Community Shield).

That is a remarkable testimony to Chelsea's consistency. But Benitez will tell his players that it is also evidence of Liverpool's seemingly unique ability to unsettle the Blues.

The two clubs go into Sunday's match unbeaten this season. Liverpool beat Aston Villa on the opening day of the new Premier League season, then won in Toulouse in their Champions League third qualifying round first leg on Wednesday. Meanwhile Chelsea came from behind in both their Premier League games to claim maximum points, beating Birmingham and Reading.

Both teams will be confident going into this game - but also wary of their opponents' proven ability to knock the off course. Given Liverpool's desperate desire to become English champions again, defeat - especially at home - is likely to be more damaging to the Reds, psychologically, than a away loss would to Chelsea. But one thing is absolutely certain: neither side will be contemplating defeat, and the level of intensity on the pitch will reflect this.

FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

15 Aug (CL Qualifying) v Toulouse (A) WON 1-0
11 Aug (Prem) v Aston Villa (A) WON 2-1
05 Aug (Friendly) v Feyenoord (A) DREW 1-1
03 Aug (Friendly) v Shanghai Shenhua (N) WON 2-0
20 July (Friendly) v Auxerre (N) WON 2-0
17 July (Friendly) v Werder Bremen (N) WON 3-2

Chelsea

15 Aug (Prem) v Reading (A) WON 2-1
12 Aug (Prem) v Birmingham (H) WON 3-2
05 Aug (Community Shield) v Man Utd (N) DREW 1-1 (Man Utd won 3-0 on pens)
31 July (Friendly) v Brondby (A) WON 2-0
28 July (Friendly) v Rangers (A) LOST 0-2
25 July (Friendly) v Feyenoord (A) DREW 1-1

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Captain Steven Gerrard is expected to have a pain-killing injection in order to play, after fracturing his toe against Toulouse. Benitez is likely to rotate his squad, with Jermaine Pennant, Dirk Kuyt, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger set to return.

Squad: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Arbeloa, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel, Benayoun, Hyypia, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Itandje.

Last Starting XI (v Toulouse): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Benayoun (Riise 59), Gerrard (Sissoko 65), Mascherano, Babel, Voronin (Torres 78), Crouch. Subs Not Used: Itandje, Agger, Alonso, Kuyt.

Chelsea

Captain John Terry is back in the Chelsea squad for the trip to Anfield after a knee ligament injury. Ricardo Carvalho is out with a thigh injury, which will be a big loss for the Blues, while Arjen Robben, Michael Ballack and Wayne Bridge are all out.

Squad: Cech, Cudicini, Ferreira, Diarra, Terry, Ben Haim, Johnson, A Cole, J Cole, Makelele, Lampard, Essien, Obi, Shevchenko, Kalou, Sidwell, Pizarro, Drogba, Wright-Phillips, Sinclair.

Last Starting XI (v Reading): Cech, Ferreira (Pizarro 46), Ben Haim, Carvalho (Johnson 31), Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Sidwell (Obi 46), Lampard, Malouda, Drogba, Kalou. Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Joe Cole.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool

Jamie Carragher has reconfirmed his decision to give up international football in order to give Liverpool his undivided attention. He is hugely experienced within the Liverpool squad, and his inspirational presence and willingness to lay his body on the line for the cause will again be crucial if Liverpool are to claim the three points they know are vital to their title aspirations.

Chelsea

Didier Drogba

Ivorian Didier Drogba has proved too hot to handle for the Liverpool defence on occasion in the past. And in midweek he came on as a substitute against Reading to score a superb goal. If he is involved against Liverpool his sheer physical presence and tireless work for the team will pose particular problems for the Reds.

Chelsea-Reading Preview

LONDON (AP) — Apart from setting a new top-flight record for consecutive home Premier League games without defeat, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was delighted with the performances of his newcomers in the 3-2 victory over Birmingham on Saturday.

He was particularly encouraged by the ease with which French international Florent Malouda settled in and also singled out fellow winger Shaun Wright-Phillips for praise.

"The wingers produced incredible football, the strikers played with great dynamic and we played good attacking football," Mourinho said. "I always thought we would score goals, I don't like to concede goals but Birmingham played well."

Victory, however, was soured by a knee injury to Michael Essien which forced him off only a few minutes after his winning goal and makes him a doubtful starter against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night.

"It was something in the knee ligament," Mourinho said. "He was in pain and I had two midfielders on the bench, so I made the change immediately.

"If you asked me, I don't know if he'll be fit for Wednesday against Reading."

Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko is continuing to struggle with his back problem - he will not train tomorrow and looks almost certain to miss the visit to the Royals.

With Didier Drogba unlikely to play a full 90 minutes, it means that Peruvian forward Claudio Pizarro, who like fellow debutant Malouda found the net on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, may well start again.

Meanwhile, Reading, facing the second leg of perhaps the most searching two-match examination any side can undergo at the start of a Premier League season, are still smarting at the sending off of Dave Kitson just 37 seconds after coming on as a substitute in the scoreless draw with champions Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

After one of swiftest dismissals in Premier League history for a badly-timed lunge at Patrice Evra, Reading manager Steve Coppell feels that referee Rob Styles was perhaps a little harsh.

"I have looked at it again and his foot probably was a little bit high," said Coppell. "The difference between a malicious, red-card challenge and a very good challenge is a milli-second. Possibly he deserved to be sent off, but Dave is not a dangerous player."

Kitson was equally incredulous, saying, "I can't believe it was a straight red card and I'd implore Rob Styles to have a second look at it. I know I caught him 1/8Evra 3/8, I was trying so desperately to stop him clearing the ball up the pitch - sometimes you?re successful and sometimes you miss."

Although his conservative game-plan, aimed at avoiding the trouncing Fulham suffered at Old Trafford on the opening day of last season, worked to perfection, Coppell was upset at the reaction afterwards.

"After watching the guys on TV, I almost feel like I have to apologise," he said. "It does bother me because I want people to think we are more than just a defensive side.

"But your season-long dreams can be shattered very quickly here. I would have loved to have gone 4-4-2 and seen what happened but we would have got hammered."

Malouda & Pizarro Pleased With Chelsea Debuts

Title challengers Chelsea enjoyed a winning start to the season this weekend, and new boys Florent Malouda and Claudio Pizarro are happy with their contributions.

Both summer signings were on the scoresheet as The Blues edged out a resilient Birmingham City team 3-2.

Malouda scored after Lampard put him through, the former Lyon man lifting the ball beyond Doyle and into the City net. The winger was pleased to have helped his side make a solid start to the season.

“I think the team showed good spirit on the pitch and we are very happy to start the season with a victory here at Stamford Bridge,” he told Chelsea’s official website.

The goal was his second in as many weeks after bravely hitting home Chelsea’s normal time equaliser in the Community Shield. The Frenchman got clattered by United keeper van der Saar in the process, and was a doubt for the Birmingham game, but he is happy to have made it.

“Last week with the goalkeeper I couldn’t continue the game but this time I played on and I’m very happy,” concluded Malouda.

Claudio Pizarro, a free transfer from Bayern Munich this summer also netted after a lovely run from man-of-the-match Shaun Wright-Phillips earned the Peruvian some space in the middle.

“I’m very happy after the game, it’s very important to win three points. I think we play very good football, and in the next game I hope we play like this,” said Pizarro.

“I’m trying to stay in the team, working very hard and hopefully in the next game I can play again.

“There is a lot of competition and that’s normal because we are playing a lot of competitions here. We are all after the chance to play,” he concluded.

Essien wants Lampard stay

Chelsea star Michael Essien has called on the club to keep team-mate Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard's future at Chelsea has been the subject of intense speculation all summer as talks over a new deal continue to drag on.

The England international has raised doubts over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge by putting off talks until the end of the season.

Essien hopes both parties can resolve the matter as he is big fan of his midfielder partner.

Frank is a fantastic player, he can do anything," Essien told the News of the World.

"I'm pleased to say that he is a really top player, a world-class player.

Disappointment

"We have to give Frank a great contract. We have to keep him here."

Meanwhile, Essien has warned Manchester United that Chelsea are hell-bent on regaining their Premier League crown this season.

Chelsea get their campaign underway on Sunday when they play host to Birmingham, live on Sky Sports 1 and Essien says the whole Blues squad are determined to make up for last season's disappointment in failing to secure their third consecutive title.

"It is one of the main trophies we have to win this year and we're going to work really hard," added Essien.

"Last season we did our best but had terrible injuries.

"We tried to do something, but at the end we couldn't make it. Injuries and the fact we were unlucky at certain points made the difference, but these things happen in football.

"Now everything that happened last season is past, we have to focus and work really hard, and see what happens this year. We have a new season coming up with new faces and we are looking forward to winning the title back.

"We're going to work really hard and see what happens."