The only thing Liverpool has to play for against Chelsea is avoiding further embarrassment by losing.
It is a matchup barely worth playing for either side. Three days ago, Chelsea took the FA Cup from Liverpool, and for Liverpool, the only goal on Tuesday is to save a little bit of face by proving it is still capable of winning.
Liverpool currently dwells in ninth place in the Premiere League standings, and that is likely where the Reds will remain. The Blues technically could still finish in fourth place, but it would require them to leap over Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. Though mathematically possible, it's very unlikely.
Pride—and negligible amounts of it—is the only thing on the line on Tuesday.
Chelsea, at least, has a tiny bit of momentum on its side coming off its win over Liverpool three days ago, but even midfielder Frank Lampard seemed willing to admit that there isn't much motivating his team toward a win except the luxury of feeling decent when it's all over.
He told the Bangkok Post:
We still have two league games to play before the Champions League final and we want to finish as best as we can. It will be a lot easier going to Anfield with a win than if we had lost. We will carry the confidence through and hope it carries on in the Champions League final. We have one more cup final to go, then who knows? It is nice to go into the next game— then the Champions League final—with a win.
Liverpool, on the other hand, doesn't seem to care at all about its lowly position in the standings because the time for caring came and went long ago. Even before Saturday's loss, the Reds have been in dire straits, going 3-6-1 dating back to March 21.
Captain Steven Gerrard knows it will be no small task getting his demoralized club motivated to put forth some semblance of effort on Tuesday. That is where pride comes in, he told the Post:
We haven't been good enough in the league this year. We deserve criticism and we need to take criticism like men. We need to do better. We're Liverpool Football Club; we're not seventh or eighth in the league. We're better than that.
With only two games remaining in their pitiable season, the Reds don't have much time left to show what they're worth. At least a win on Tuesday will show that they're capable of winning, even if it's only come in spurts.
Chad Moeller Jorge Posada Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis
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