LONDON - All eyes will be on Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers's team selection when they attempt to end leaders Chelsea's unbeaten start to the Premier League season tomorrow.
Rodgers appeared content to sacrifice Tuesday evening's Champions League clash away at Real Madrid, leaving the likes of Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling on the bench as his side lost 1-0.
Last weekend's disappointing 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United left Liverpool in seventh place, 12 points behind Chelsea, who have won eight and drawn two of their games so far.
While that represents a chasm that looks too big to close, Liverpool are only three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal and the ambition to finish in the Champions League qualification spots is the priority.
"Irrespective of the Chelsea game, we picked the team to try to get a result tonight [Tuesday]," Rodgers said after the defeat at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium that leaves Liverpool's hopes of reaching the last 16 hanging in the balance.
"All those that weren't playing tonight, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll play against Chelsea."
Chelsea manager José Mourinho had his own take on Rodgers' decision. "Normally, against the most difficult opponents, I will try to go with my best team," he said before his side's 1-1 draw with NK Maribor on Wednesday that stretched their unbeaten start to the season to a club record equalling 16 games.
"But who knows? Liverpool might play a fantastic match and win and rest players and the players are in great condition to play against us.
"It might be a genius decision."
Second-placed Southampton will look to continue their unlikely chase of Mourinho's side at home to Leicester City who haven't managed a point since a 5-3 home win over Manchester United in September.
FIXTURES
Tomorrow: Liverpool v Chelsea; West Ham v Aston Villa; Burnley v Hull City; Man United v Crystal Palace; Leicester v Southampton; QPR v Man City
Sunday: Sunderland v Everton; Stoke City v Tottenham; West Brom v Newcastle; Swansea v Arsenal.
Mourinho vs Rodgers: It's a mind game
LONDON - All eyes will be on Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers's team selection when they attempt to end leaders Chelsea's unbeaten start to the Premier League season tomorrow.
Rodgers appeared content to sacrifice Tuesday evening's Champions League clash away at Real Madrid, leaving the likes of Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling on the bench as his side lost 1-0.
Last weekend's disappointing 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United left Liverpool in seventh place, 12 points behind Chelsea, who have won eight and drawn two of their games so far.
While that represents a chasm that looks too big to close, Liverpool are only three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal and the ambition to finish in the Champions League qualification spots is the priority.
"Irrespective of the Chelsea game, we picked the team to try to get a result tonight [Tuesday]," Rodgers said after the defeat at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium that leaves Liverpool's hopes of reaching the last 16 hanging in the balance.
"All those that weren't playing tonight, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll play against Chelsea."
Chelsea manager José Mourinho had his own take on Rodgers' decision. "Normally, against the most difficult opponents, I will try to go with my best team," he said before his side's 1-1 draw with NK Maribor on Wednesday that stretched their unbeaten start to the season to a club record equalling 16 games.
"But who knows? Liverpool might play a fantastic match and win and rest players and the players are in great condition to play against us.
"It might be a genius decision."
Second-placed Southampton will look to continue their unlikely chase of Mourinho's side at home to Leicester City who haven't managed a point since a 5-3 home win over Manchester United in September.
FIXTURES
Tomorrow: Liverpool v Chelsea; West Ham v Aston Villa; Burnley v Hull City; Man United v Crystal Palace; Leicester v Southampton; QPR v Man City
Sunday: Sunderland v Everton; Stoke City v Tottenham; West Brom v Newcastle; Swansea v Arsenal.
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