After Rafa Benitez's much discussed 'zonal system' was once again exposed last night by Chelsea, 'Big Sam' is eyeing what he perceives to be the Reds' soft underbelly...9 Apr 2009 16:28:31
Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce was clearly taking notice of last night's 3-1 victory for Chelsea over Liverpool in the Champions League, and he is hoping to use some of the lessons learned from the game when his side travel to Anfield on Saturday.
Rafa Benitez's men came unstuck twice at corners, with Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic appearing in the penalty area both times to power headers into the net, relatively unmolested by Liverpool defenders on both occasions.
The famously analytical Allardyce, whose sides are physical and tend to attack and defend well from set-pieces, certainly saw plenty to interest him.
"Obviously we've seen them a couple of times before last night's game. From my point of view, I went to have a look and watch what was probably the most in-form team in this country at the moment come a little unstuck on the night," he told Blackburn's official website.
"It can happen to us all on occasions, but it was the wonderful ability of Chelsea Football Club on the night that got the tactics right, but also used their outstanding ability to punish them very heavily in the end.
"We can only hope that that knocks their confidence a little bit. From my point of view, I'm trying to get as many of our players as fit as I can.
"It will be a difficult game and one where we'll obviously go and try to do the best we can."
Allardyce is using the example of a previous preformance against a 'big four' side during his brief tenure at Ewood Park as a means of firing his troops up for the encounter, which could play a big part in shaping Rovers' survival bid.
He added, "I'd like to see a repeat of the performance of what we did at Manchester United, where we were very unlucky to lose that. Basically we'll do that by trying to get as many players as fit as we can and pick a side who can combat a very good, attacking Liverpool team at Anfield and then try to expose one or two weaknesses that were shown up last night.
"Their pride will have been hurt, but they are still just one point off Manchester United, so it will be a very big game for them. I think they'll be all guns blazing, but one [test] we've come across before and have had to cope with.
"I just want to get as many of my experienced players as fit as possible to go and compete against the very best in this league."
http://www.talkaloadofbull.com/en/teams/england/108/blackburn Even Big Sam is allowed to dream too.
