Must see TV: Will Liverpool gain their MOURINHO REVENGE?
COMMENT: They would love it at Liverpool. Ending Jose Mourinho's Premier League career at the Bridge? Reds fans would absolutely love it.
Oh irony of ironies, Mourinho is there for the taking at Chelsea. Less than two years after he and Demba Ba clobbered Liverpool's title chance and sent the club spiraling back into mediocrity.
Where would the Reds be now if that game at Anfield had been won? Would Luis Suarez still be running around in a Reds shirt? What about Steven Gerrard and the mental anguish he's had to carry ever since that slip? Would he be a different player, a Reds player, today? Brendan Rodgers? Raheem Sterling? Alexis Sanchez?
As Rodgers stated after his sacking, he was proud to give the Reds faithful the chance "to dream". But it was all shattered by that bloody Mourinho and his tactical masterclass on April 27, 2014.
Before then, Rodgers had awoken the sleeping giant. They boasted the celebrated one club man in Gerrard, a Ballon d'Or contender in Suarez, the best young player, Sterling, in the game and the brightest young manager in Rodgers. The glory days were about to return. The Reds support could almost touch it. But then Mourinho ripped it away, just as he famously ripped the ball away from Gerrard during one flashpoint in that crazy game.
A year later, Mourinho and Chelsea would be crowned champions. And Liverpool? They were on their knees. Engulfed by in-fighting. Abandoned by their best players. The place was a shambles.
But today? It's Chelsea who are teetering and Liverpool, thanks to Jurgen Klopp's arrival, can again lift their head and see a bright, bold future ahead.
No-one at Chelsea wants to see Mourinho go. Not the players, nor the fans, the board, not even Roman Abramovich. The manager retains the support of everyone at the club. But he needs to start winning games and a heavy defeat - at home - to Klopp's Liverpool on Saturday could be the end.
And we're not just talking about Chelsea. We may not see Mourinho again in the Premier League if Abramovich drops the axe. Given the spotfires that have broken out all around the manager this season, it's just about unimaginable that a board at a top four club would think of employing the Special One.
But geez, how the traveling Liverpool fans would love to see it happen on Saturday.
And the FA has bought into the pantomime, allowing Mourinho to take his place in the home dugout, despite a lengthy suspension awaiting him after his West Ham rant last week. If you can't get to the game, this is must see TV.
Buoyed after delivering Klopp his first win as manager, Liverpool will be bouncing. And knowing the German's approach, there'll be no 'measured' start from the visitors come kick off. They'll be aggressive, energetic and united. Everything that Chelsea isn't.
Go back to that day at Anfield, one of the defining moments of that game was Suarez waving to Mark Schwarzer, the Chelsea goalkeeper, to 'hurry up' and take his kick. The ball was in play. Suarez could've chased down the Aussie, forcing him into action. Instead, he was there upfield expecting Chelsea to play into his hands. The sense of entitlement was incredible.
But now Liverpool arrive humbled, hungry and desperate to impress their new manager. The sense of entitlement is now plaguing Chelsea. As Gary Cahill confessed last week, the players had been "arrogant" in expecting results to fall their way. Diego Costa has put his hand up about being "overweight" for preseason. Everyone at Chelsea's become too comfortable. Soft. And have been picked off time and again by smaller clubs boasting hungrier and more desperate players.
Now the situation is at breaking point. There's good lads at Chelsea. Good characters. Costa has put his hand up for Saturday, willing to play with his bruised ribs. Martin Skrtel will love that. And they'll fight for their manager. Openly. But it takes as much courage to bite your tongue and not self-indulge letting loose at a ref, as it does going into a 40:60 challenge. Chelsea won't save their manager finishing the game with ten or nine men. But that's what we expect now everytime Chelsea take the pitch.
And facing a snarling, snappy Liverpool, how are the fallen champions going to react? You won't be able to look away. It will be must see TV on Saturday
INJURY TIME
Brilliant week for Liverpool fans. They should be floating today.
Jurgen Klopp not only gave local lads Connor Randall and Cameron Brannagan starts in the Capital One Cup, the Liverpool manager saw them win.
Where the kids of Arsenal and Manchester United flopped, Liverpool's lads came up trumps with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Midfielder Brannagan has been with the club since he was eight years of age. Fullback Randall joined as a six year old.
Their selection came just days after Klopp's first chosen battle as Liverpool manager was not with a rival manager, or ref, but with the FA and burnout fears for another Scouse lad, Jordan Rossiter. If you're a local Red, who's seen the talent running around every weekend being ignored by Liverpool scouts, this has to put a spring in your step.
And to top off a great week for the junior talent around Liverpool, Klopp welcomes Steve Heighway back to the club to work with the academy. Heighway oversaw a youth system which produced Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard during his 18 years in charge.
Credit to Alex Inglethorpe, the current academy director, for instigating the move to bring Heighway back. And now with Klopp selecting - and defending - his Scouse kids, that local pathway is beginning to re-emerge.
