[sportsfan2006]

By Tim Robertson
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Bored of “Chelsea in crisis” stories yet?

Well, brace yourselves, because it could be a whole lot worse by next week.

For more than two weeks now we have been reading about everything that is supposedly wrong at Stamford Bridge.

From the reported dispute between Manager Jose Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich to the dressing room whispers about the attitudes of Andrei Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, the supply of stories has been constant ever since the Blues were held to three consecutive draws over Christmas, costing them vital ground in the Premiership title race.

Not even last week’s 4-0 demolition of Wigan was enough to stem the tide.

Imagine what it will be like if they fail to win at Liverpool on Saturday. Then consider that, for all their inconsistency, the Reds have not lost in the league at Anfield all season.

When the word “crisis” was used to describe Chelsea’s Christmas results – those draws against Reading, Fulham and Aston Villa – it was supposed to be something of a joke.

But then Mourinho weighed in with complaints of a lack of boardroom support, Shevchenko – left out of the side – began to complain of being made the scapegoat, and there were rumours as to whether the highest-paid player, Ballack, was pulling his weight.

Now the story refuses to die, and on Thursday club chief executive Peter Kenyon joined in, apparently not realizing that the more club officials deny there is a crisis, the more the newspapers will write about one.

"I think we should be quite clear that Chelsea is not in crisis,” said Kenyon. "I know lots of clubs who would like to be six points off the top and probably the only club in contention for all four trophies this season. I think we need to put that in the context of where we are. So I think we're calm, we're clear.”

But on Saturday, Chelsea face a Liverpool team which has won nine of 11 league games at Anfield this season, and which was impressive in beating Watford 3-0 away last week to banish memories of back-to-back defeats against Arsenal in both cup competitions.

What has cost Liverpool this season were poor results away from home in the early weeks of the season. They have shown they have the talent to have been in contention this season, and that has only left the players frustrated that they did not make it count from the start.

"The lads know that we could be even closer to Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the table, but that's all about ifs and buts now,” said defender Steve Finnan. "It is difficult not to look at some of our results, such as Blackburn and Middlesbrough away, and wonder just how close to the top two we could have been now.

"We could go back to the start of the season and list a number of away games that we probably should have got more out of, Chelsea away included. It can be frustrating to see that gap between ourselves and the two at the top."

WagerWeb.com barely splits the two teams, offering Chelsea at +150 and Liverpool at +163, with a draw at +200.

But if the Liverpool players can channel their frustration, there is no reason why they cannot extend their unbeaten run at home and put a further dent in Chelsea’s hopes of a third straight Premiership title.

If Chelsea spend long enough talking about being in a crisis, maybe soon enough they will find themselves in one.


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