Mourinho as Chelsea host Liverpool-Fingers Cross
It’d have been silly to doubt Jose Mourinho’s job protection when the Premier League kicked off in August but, with 10 games gone, his position at Chelsea is under intense examination ahead of Saturday’s match with Liverpool. Five months after they romped to the title, Chelsea as well as their ability -packed squad are hovering over the relegation zone.
The spotlight is currently securely fixed on Mourinho whose erratic behavior has gone hand-in-hand together with the corkscrew fortunes of his team. Sent to the stands in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat the Portuguese has spent much of the first effort picking fights.
The team’s former doctor, referees, the Football Association, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and even a few of his own players are caught in the crossfire of the furious outbursts of Mourinho.
The Chelsea boss is, of course, no stranger to controversy but such consistently inferior results have seldom, if ever, accompanied his regular run-ins with all the authorities.
Chelsea’s midweek League Cup defeat at Stoke City means they go into Saturday’s home game on the back of two straight defeats.
Mourinho an even-money favourite to be the following Premier League supremo to get the sack is now made by bookmakers. Fans are openly speculating if Liverpool can inflict another defeat on the winners, that time could be called by owner Roman Abramovich, a guy who places infamously high demands on his managers, on Mourinho’s second spell.
Christian Benteke missed Wednesday’s 1-0 League Cup win over Bournemouth, leaving Belgian Divock Origi to Liverpool as their only burst first- team forward.
Manchester City Premier League leaders will be prepared to claim all three points when they host Norwich City while Arsenal, who trail Manuel Pellegrini’s side on goal difference, face a tougher job when they see Swansea City.
Wenger also must compete using a mounting injury list after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott were early casualties in Tuesday’s awkward 3-0 League Cup defeat at second-tier Sheffield Wednesday.
