Sky Sports football expert and European Cup winner Phil Thompson looks ahead to Wednesday's Champions League clashes.....
Thommo on Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Thommo on Chelsea v Roma
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Kuyt: could be key
Atletico Madrid were the curve ball thrown at Liverpool by the Champions League draw and this will be their toughest game of the group.
Because Atletico Madrid have been out of European competition for so long they were in Pot Four when the draw was made, but despite their seeding I think they are the hardest team in a very tough group for Liverpool.
Chelsea had a bullishness when Jose Mourinho was there, but they now have an air of confidence that I've never seen from them before.
Phil Thompson
Quotes of the week
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
6pm, Wed, Sky Sports 2&HD2
Chelsea v Roma
7.30pm, Wed, Sky Sports Xtra&HD3
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Saying that, they've had a difficult time in La Liga lately, losing three in a row and being humiliated 6-1 by Barcelona, so that will have demoralised them. Kun Aguero is their star player, but he's been injured and out of form so they've got difficulties.
But Liverpool can be under no illusions that this will be a difficult game, especially without Fernando Torres. I feel desperately sorry for him because when the draw was made he must have thought somebody up there was smiling down on him.
The game was nearly taken away from him by UEFA's aborted stadium ban and then he went and got himself injured. It's extra-special for any player to go back to their home-town team so he'll be devastated to miss out. It shows what a good professional he is that he hasn't travelled to Madrid and is concentrating on getting fit instead.
In his absence I don't think Liverpool will go with two strikers. I think Stevie Gerrard will play off a lone front-man, probably Dirk Kuyt at the expense of Robbie Keane.
There is the option of playing Keane up front with Kuyt back in his right-midfield slot but after his two goals at the weekend I think Rafa will opt for the Dutchman and persist with Jermaine Pennant, who set up one of the goals against Wigan.
Liverpool can afford to lose this game, but that will not be in their thoughts. They want to get the group wrapped not only for their Champions League prospects, but for their Premier League title ambitions.
A win here would give them nine points and with two home games to come and one away, then qualification will more or less be guaranteed. That would allow Rafa to rest and rotate players in the Champions League rather than even think of doing it in the Premier League.
Although Liverpool are not keeping clean sheets, the likes of Kuyt and Gerrard are in good goalscoring form and I can see them getting the victory.
THOMMO'S PREDICTION: 1-2
Chelsea v Roma
Chelsea look absolutely awesome at the moment.
I could quite rightly say Middlesbrough were very poor against them at the weekend, but you're only as good as you're allowed to be and I don't think Chelsea allowed them to play well.
They had a bullishness when Jose Mourinho was there, but they now have an air of confidence that I've never seen from them before. At this moment I would say the football they're playing is a lot more adventurous, a lot more attacking and they are reaping the rewards with plenty of goals.
It's even more frightening when you consider the number of injuries they have. Against Middlesbrough, Salomon Kalou started, Juliano Belletti was in midfield, John Terry wasn't 100 per cent fit and they were far from full-strength. Yet they absolutely annihilated a Middlesbrough side who have fantastic home form against the top teams.
So Chelsea look strong, particularly at home and Roma haven't always travelled well in the past - as we saw when they let in seven at Old Trafford a couple of seasons ago.
Luiz Felipe Scolari can't change things much because of the injury situation, but I would think he might play Deco instead of Belletti and that could mean curtains for Roma.
They're not playing well at all at the moment and their confidence will be low after losing 4-0 at home to Inter Milan at the weekend. A little bit like AC Milan, Roma have kept the same influential people in their side for a long time. They're getting older, more tired and I think it's time for a massive overhaul.
Francesco Totti may be back after his injury problems but I don't think even a Totti-inspired Roma can get anywhere near Chelsea. I don't even think they'll get a goal.
THOMMO'S PREDICTION: 3-0
Comments (11)
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Baljit Plaha (Liverpool fan) says...
i think liverpool should put mascherano on aguero and try and frustrate aguero as much as possible. if you have been watching la liga it clearly shows that aguero has been atletico's biggest attacking threat. liverpool need to start with some pace upfront in babel. i would probably have riera kuyt and babel up top with gerrard just behind and mascherano and xabi just as the anchormen..i hope we'll get a result here good luck you reds.
Posted 11:37 22nd October 2008
Dean Cain (Liverpool fan) says...
Yes Chelsea's whole team looks good, there attack is great, there midfield is looking world class, even there defence is looking solid, and nearly every game this season they have looked like scoring, especailly when the get the first, once ahead they look like destroying teams. But.....Who have the played?? i am not talking about good technicall teams, like Aston Villa who they took apart, i am talking about teams with qaulity, who also have the muscle and fight....i may be wrong but i think that, all the good football they play and are encouraged to play, will be the reason for there down fall later in the season. Just like arsenal in recent seasons, i think there will come a time when teams, play chelsea, and beat chelsea by putting 10 men behind the ball, playing long ball to a lone striking and closing everythin down as quickly and as nasty as the can (get away with) Can you really see some of the chelsea players flying into a 50-50 tackle with Gerrrard or Mashcerano? or less qaulity players like barton or bellamy?...do you?....anelka? Kalou?... I suppose thats when we will see the true qaulity, and whether there physical players like j.terry and m.ballack can drag them through!...and that is were scolari comes into play he has to choose the team for the right match. f.lampard is a great player but paired with deco, against a team who are willing to take the bruises wont work, in them games m.ballack is a most.
Posted 10:40 22nd October 2008
Eljko Nega (Ipswich Town fan) says...
Chelsea are in great form and I am sure that will give at least two goals, maybe inough for win. Liverpool is not the same story, they need to win and I think that will do that cause Liverpool play best when have a hard match. They will give them two goals too.
Posted 08:17 22nd October 2008
Mark Mcgrath (Manchester United fan) says...
I can't wait until Liverpool come to Old Trafford. It's going to be ridiculous how much you're going to be eating those words Steve. Also to say that Liverpool have the strongest first 11 in Europe is the craziest thing I have ever heard...its simply ludicrous!! I will however agree that Chelsea have a very very strong squad let alone first 11. Liverpool are nowhere near capable of winning the Champions League...or any League for that matter...but who knows what the future holds...apart from United retaining the Champions League that is :)
Posted 01:21 22nd October 2008
Bing Ho (Liverpool fan) says...
Chelsea game is pretty obvious even with the injuries, they have talent on the bench most of them would be starters in other teams even including top teams. They havent really been tested and I fear that Roma on their current form will not be able to either. Roma might get a thumping like borough even with Totti who is getting old. Liverpool away at Atletico will be much tougher match, both teams would want to win for the sake of qualifying to the next round and I think that will even itself out and become a defensive game for both teams. They would both be happy with a draw and it would be very likley to be one. Unless a goal comes from set piece, I think 0-0, or 1-1
Posted 01:07 22nd October 2008
Hermawan Ardiyanto (Liverpool fan) says...
Couldn't agree moore with Thommo, considering our consistent winning performance .... and Scolari's boys also. Liverpool & Chelsea have prove their quality by dominating the premier league until now, swept almost all the points there. So, there is no doubt that both teams will overcome Atletico & Roma as well. I hope to see Liverpool and another english team in the final.
Posted 00:22 22nd October 2008
Matthew O'connor (Chelsea fan) says...
I do think that liverpool will stroll to a win, purely becasue thye have confidence when they play, simply because rafa has cemented a spine in his team, but they aren't sound defensively, carragher has been getting steadily worse year on year. In relation to chelsea, they are reminding me of a certain barcelona team in th champions league a few years back. Nobody will want to face us, because we don't look beatable.
Posted 23:50 21st October 2008
Steve Ricketts (Liverpool fan) says...
There is no doubt that Liverpool, in Europe, are consistently one of the finest teams around. Chelsea are the only team in Europe that can touch them, because only they have as strong a first 11. People say that LFC are a two man team, yet they embarrassed Man United without those two very players. Alonso, Mascherano, Reina, Carragher, Agger, Keane, Riena, and thats not even mentioning Gerrard or Torres. Expect Liverpool to be in the final this year - or if not, then it will be Chelsea that beats them.
Posted 18:02 21st October 2008
Hasnath Mirza (Liverpool fan) says...
I think liverpool should go attacking against Athletico Madrid. They should go for 4-3-3 formation and if the plan does not work, they can always revert back to 4-5-1 formation. I will start with Keane on the right, Babel on the left and Kuyt as the lone striker and Gerrard just behind him. I will have Alonso and Masc as my two holding midfielders. Liverpool will have to keep possession of the ball if they are to get a positive result. Athletico have poor defence and Liverpool must attack.
Posted 17:31 21st October 2008
Neil Seddon (Liverpool fan) says...
Being a Liverpool fan my take on these two matches is that Liverpools Match In madrid will be a difficult match and I do expect to see some goals, I think its important for liverpool if they can to score first and then they can be in control like we so often have done in europe before, but I do expect us to go over their and get at worst a draw but with the confidence in the squad being sky high after the last couple of results I think we certainly have the tools to get 3 points even without the WORLDS BEST STRIKER. In terms of chelsea I expect them to have to much for roma in this game.
Posted 17:06 21st October 2008
Stu Edmo (Liverpool fan) says...
Absolutely agree with both of Thommo's verdicts. Hope he gets our result spot on - and with Chelsea looking so good and Roma so poor - then an easy Chelsea win is on teh cards too. It all sets up what will be a fabulous whilst nerve racking game on Sunday !!! I'm biting my nails already !
Posted 16:52 21st October 2008
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