English Premier League

Lucas or Lovren when Liverpool take on Chelsea at the Bridge?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:25 p.m. ET

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: General view of the new stand during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield on September 10, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Liverpool go up against rivals Chelsea. Dependent on what type of football Liverpool goes with at Stanford Bridge, will determine who gets the nod.

After Lucas had such a promising game in the back four Saturday past, should he or Lovren partner Joel Matip?

The Cameroonian seems the one to have booked his place for Friday night’s match, with two decent premier league performances.

In last week’s match it was hard to miss Lucas great assist for Jamie Vardy’s goal against Liverpool, but in return, Lucas put in a performance good enough to earn him another start.

Lucas has recently returned from injury and was thrown in as a bit of a surprise. News of Lovren’s late injury was the reason for this.

The Brazilian was good for the home game. Especially for how well he contributed to Liverpool’s transition from defense to attack and playing out from the back with Matip.

Lovren on the other hand, has improved so much, you would question him not being in the team.

Related: Liverpool-Chelsea combined XI

Now we have to way up, who’s the better option come tomorrow night?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City in action with Lucas Leiva of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield on September 10, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

Does Liverpool need defensive attributes or ball playing ability in the back-line?

Lucas worked out great at Anfield, solely cause of how comfortable he is on the ball. He has never shied away from a tackle and has a great football brain on him.

Would he do well in away match against Chelsea? I think not. With a player such as Diego Costa, it’s hard to see him bully the big Spaniard around.

With Liverpool playing away again, counter-attacking football is a no brainer.

We would have little need for Lucas to play out from the back, if we were to defend from the front the entire game.

Matip in the same breath, is capable of playing out from defense. Hence the reason Lucas can sit this one out.

A stronger defensive team is needed and Lucas is not the answer for a more defensive game, compared to Lovren.

Playing with two midfielders in the back-line and the three who sit just in front of them, against a team like Chelsea, has problem written all over it.

Chelsea has been in great form of late and it would be mindless to go into the match with five midfield players, protecting our goal mouth.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Dejan Lovren of Liverpool applauds supporters following the International Champions Cup match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Lovren the safer defensive option at the moment for Liverpool.

If not injured last week, we would have probably seen the big Croatian start ahead of Lucas.

Hopefully there’s no late injury scares, which would throw this debate right out the window, but for the moment, as confirmed by Klopp, Lovren will be ready to face Chelsea.

Lovren might not be better than Lucas with his feet, but offers an enhanced defensive option compared to Lucas.

Why I feel Lovren needs to start is? He will be the perfect sparing partner to take on Costa.

Skrtel would be the one normally taking on “Dirty Harry”, but he has moved on to greener pastures now. Leaving only Lovren and Ragnar as the bullies of the team.

Costa’s good in the air and a hell of an opponent to try push off the ball. Making playing against him difficult to say the least.

With his robust game, he adds the annoying value of getting under the skin of opposing teams. We will need somebody to put up and deal with this five-aside mentality.

I don’t see Lucas or Matip being able to do so, only Lovren.

He will provide good cover for Matip aerially. Which already counts as a bonus for the team. With Costa and Lovren battling it out, it gives Matip time to play his part and apply his ability to play out from the back.

To add to this, Lovren is a natural defender. Chelsea has some big guys in their team and height was too a key factor lacking in our set-pieces last seasons. Whereas set-pieces are one of Chelsea’s strong suits.

Only with Lovren in, will we be able to deal better with their threat into the box. Liverpool doesn’t need to add more risk to what seems to be a makeshift back-line already.