Chelsea, English soccer’s plutocrats, plunge into premier league combat on Sunday when they face one of their likely title rivals, Liverpool, at Anfield in their opening game of the season. The clash is a repeat of the final match of last season, when Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge meant they pipped Liverpool to the final Champions League spot. Saturday’s game promises to be just as compelling for entirely different reasons and the Chelsea side will bear little resemblance to the one that turned out in May. Bought in the close season by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, the London side have embarked on the most spectacular spending spree English soccer has ever seen. The outlay is in excess of 70 million pounds ($112.6 million) and still climbing as coach Claudio Ranieri cherry-picks talent from around the globe. SYSTEM ERROR? The Premiership could have already been decided by the computer that plots the fixtures schedule. Arsenal have the hardest season; their eight toughest matches are bunched together in four weeks in September/October and three weeks in March/April: • Sept 20: v Man U (away) • Sept 27: v Newcastle (home) • Oct 4: v Liverpool (away) • Oct 18: v Chelsea (home) • March 27: v Man U (home) • April 10: v Liverpool (home) • April 12: v Newcastle (away) • April 17: v Leeds (home) The likeable Italian told British reporters this week: “I feel I am with a new club. This is a new Chelsea. The old Chelsea could only afford to sign one or two players. Now our life has changed.” Judging by their assured 2-0 Champions League qualifying round win over Slovak team MSK Zilina on Wednesday, the anticipated bedding-down period for the new Chelsea squad may not take as long as anticipated. Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, awaiting a work permit, could be added to the new look team against Liverpool, probably alongside Iceland Eidur Gudjohnsen in attack. Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron and fellow midfielder Damien Duff, two other new signings, impressed on Wednesday, as did right back Glen Johnson, who may be called into the England squad for next week’s friendly against Croatia. Liverpool’s close-season use of the cheque book as been much more miserly, but they are delighted to have snared Australian forward Harry Kewell for five million pounds from Leeds, and Fulham defender Steve Finnan for 3.5 million. The Kewell fee represents something of a bargain and if manager Gerard Houllier can find a suitable role for the versatile 24-year-old Australian, Liverpool’s reputation as a dull side may soon be a distant memory. Houllier’s side started last season superbly, opening up a lead at the top of the table before falling away inexplicably. Unfortunately for Liverpool, England midfielder Steven Gerrard is suspended. (Reuters)
