Cesar Azpilicueta has admitted that Chelsea enjoyed derailing Liverpools title challenge in 2014 and are hopeful of doing so again on Sunday.
A run of 11 straight victories propelled Liverpool to pole position in the Premier League table with three games to go during the 2013-14 season but a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield proved fatal to their challenge with Manchester City pipping them to the title.
Jose Mourinho rotated his squad for that game to concentrate on a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid a few days later, but goals from Demba Ba – after Steven Gerrards untimely slip – and Willian handed Chelsea a surprise win.
Azpilicueta, who was in the Chelsea starting XI that day, is hopeful of putting a dent in Liverpools title bid once again but conceded that his side will have to defend solidly as a team in order to keep their attack quiet.
We enjoyed that day and hopefully we can replicate it on Sunday, he told Sky Sports.
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Its not about frustrating Liverpool, its about playing our game. We know they are fighting for the title but for us every point is very important for the top four. Its an important game.
We know were going to play a very strong side, but first of all we need to keep the solidity that weve shown in the last games, and defend very well as a team because they are a big threat.
And if we take our chances, I think weve proved ourselves already this season when we won (2-1) in the League Cup. I think its a big game, and everyones looking forward to it.
More: Football
Sundays game at Anfield represents Liverpools sternest test ahead of the title run-in with home games against HuddersRead More – Source
Cesar Azpilicueta has admitted that Chelsea enjoyed derailing Liverpools title challenge in 2014 and are hopeful of doing so again on Sunday.
A run of 11 straight victories propelled Liverpool to pole position in the Premier League table with three games to go during the 2013-14 season but a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield proved fatal to their challenge with Manchester City pipping them to the title.
Jose Mourinho rotated his squad for that game to concentrate on a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid a few days later, but goals from Demba Ba – after Steven Gerrards untimely slip – and Willian handed Chelsea a surprise win.
Azpilicueta, who was in the Chelsea starting XI that day, is hopeful of putting a dent in Liverpools title bid once again but conceded that his side will have to defend solidly as a team in order to keep their attack quiet.
We enjoyed that day and hopefully we can replicate it on Sunday, he told Sky Sports.
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Advertisement
Its not about frustrating Liverpool, its about playing our game. We know they are fighting for the title but for us every point is very important for the top four. Its an important game.
We know were going to play a very strong side, but first of all we need to keep the solidity that weve shown in the last games, and defend very well as a team because they are a big threat.
And if we take our chances, I think weve proved ourselves already this season when we won (2-1) in the League Cup. I think its a big game, and everyones looking forward to it.
More: Football
Sundays game at Anfield represents Liverpools sternest test ahead of the title run-in with home games against HuddersRead More – Source
