Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen says their rearguard will be key to victory in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
hTe 25-year-old played in the meeting with the Reds at Anfield at the start of the season, when the Blues defended solidly to earn a 1-1 draw, and although a back problem rendered him unavailable for the pulsating 2-2 rematch at the Bridge at the start of January, he knows fully what it will be like to be in the Chelsea rearguard this afternoon and what will be required.
"The first game, at Anfield, we got a red card quite early in the game and from then on, we just had to take the point," Christensen told the club's website. "In the second game we fought back [from 2-0 down] and I think we were unlucky not to win the game in the end.
"So we are looking at ourselves and the performances that we've done against them and trying to take that on board for the next one. But at the same time, it's a final, somehow it feels a bit different in the game.
"It's very hard to compare that to the league games and what we've played against them so far. A final is completely different, anything can happen, but it will be taken on board what have we done against them in the past."
The includes when Chelsea have defended well against Jurgen Klopp's outfit.
"Liverpool come at you with energy, with their runs, and there's never-ending movement," Christensen notes.
"I think we've found a good balance to do it as a back five, so you're not in it alone - not one-against-ones all the time.
"You've always got someone backing up and that's important because Liverpool have a phenomenal front three who are dangerous all the time and never seem to get tired. For us, it's just about backing each other up and being there for each other. If you do all these one-against-ones, at some point you might slip up for one second and you can't afford that."
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