Rafa unveils Liverpool's new gameplan: Copy
Wigan
Keep Chelsea down: Rafa Benitez (left) copying Roberto
Martinez's gameplan
When Rafa Benitez welcomed his friend and fellow
Spaniard Roberto Martinez to Premier League management during the
summer, it was hard to imagine that within weeks the master would
be studying the pupil.
Yet, that is what has happened ahead of
Liverpool's first Big Four confrontation of the season,
against Carlo Ancelotti's
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today.
Liverpool's players spent part of yesterday at Melwood looking
at a DVD of the way Martinez's
Wigan dismantled Chelsea 3-1 last weekend.
'I watched a recording of the game and my staff compiled clips
for my players to analyse,' said Benitez.
'Wigan had a very good gameplan and made it difficult for
Chelsea. Yes, we can learn from it even though our players are
different to Wigan, more technical and not as physical.
'I know Roberto, so I knew what he was thinking for that match.
We have looked at the way Chelsea defended, how they attacked, how
they were at set-pieces. And we have used it in our training.'
Benitez has made it a priority to make sure his side are not
overrun by the Chelsea machine headed by Michael Essien and Didier
Drogba.
The canny Liverpool manager, who masterminded Chelsea's first
home defeat since 2004 last October, is putting huge importance on
the return of Javier Mascherano from a hamstring injury after
missing the Champions League defeat at Fiorentina and may also use
Steven Gerrard in a deeper role.
'This game is ideal for Mascherano,' said Benitez. 'Chelsea
likeo pass the ball along the floor and Mascherano is a worker. He
can regain a lot of the ball.
'We have used Stevie close to Fernando Torres in away games as
we thought they could be dangerous. But we have to look at what
happened against Fiorentina.
'It won't be a problem for Stevie. He is pleased to play as a
second striker or a midfielder.'
no back bone.. pui
