Johnson injured for Chelsea game

Unfortunately Johnson is injured for the game in a few hours.

I do not know what this means for the team but I really hope that Rafa opts to go for Mascherano and Gerrard in the middle of the park.

Unfortunately, I think Rafa is going to try to play Masch against Malouda today. Masch has performed brilliantly the times he has been given the right back task for the day but we lose something important in the middle.

Against Atletico I thought Lucas had a good game but like I have said so many times before it is the exception rather than the rule. Maybe that is down to Lucas still being young and adapting to the English game or maybe it is down to him simply not being good enough.

Agger is likely to be back at the left back for tonight as Kyriakos will likely take Ayala's place in defence. (also injured according to liverpool.no)

Personally I would like to see Degen starting at right back today with Lucas being used as a sub.

I think it would be nice to give Babel a shout against slow defenders in the middle (terry and alex) and Kuyt, Benayoun and Maxi right behind.

Gerrard has showed over the last few games that he is best when he comes surging through in the middle making runs from deep.

The only reason he was moved up to attacking midfielder or the retracted striker position in the first place was to accomodate having 3 world class midfielders in our team at once (Alonso, Masch and Stevie G). Now that one of them are gone we should go back to 442 or at least play Gerrard in that central midfield position every game. He is amongst the 5 best players in the world in that position and I would argue he is in the top 3 along with Essien and Xavi.

If we play Kuyt and Babel up top together they could have gotten that Dutch understanding going. Saying that I do not mind having the 4231 as an alternative as well as it has worked for us recently and in the latter stages of last season.

I just think to play that formation you need an exeptional striker up top, someone strong, tall and able to threaten agianst two central defenders on their own. Torres and Drogba are in that category and I do not think there are many others that can do exactly that. Maybe Kenwyn Jones or John Carew just do to their share size however they do not have the same ability as Torres and Drogba.

Anyway, I can not sleep as I am excited for the game and hopefully we can stick it to Chelsea despite helping United.

4. place is unfortunately gone but it should not matter. We should go out and play for the shirt and show pride and try to finish off the season on a high and with a Europa league spot.

gotta admit though that I am worried. Chelsea looked awfully good in last weeks hammering of Stoke...

DId anyone see Droba's two amazing takedowns and subsequent throughballs? One with his back heal and one with the outside of his foot... both from long crosses.

The man has an abundance of ability, just a shame he is such a whiner and a diver.

Hope referees keep carding him and that he gets sent off today.

YNWA,
Stian