So defensively they might have difficulties, but in midfield and attack they have options to spare.
They have not won away from home since beating Sunderland on 8 November 2008 and the departures of Glen Johnson, Sean Davis and Peter Crouch have left them looking listless in defence, midfield and attack.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Premier League | Arsenal 4-1 Portsmouth
And secondly, they should seek out a midfield player as capable in attack as he is in defence.
Both sides set up with three across midfield operating behind three more attack-orientated players but Chelsea were the superior team and enjoyed the better of precious few early openings.
With players such as Michael and Brian Laudrup in midfield and Preben Elkjaer Larsen in attack, the side were a force to be reckoned with in the late 1980s.
It was his centre partner Casey Laulala who lit the Blues' touch paper, though, splitting the Saints midfield defence on halfway, the attack carried forward for Mustoe to pile over from close range.
But despite, some enterprising play in midfield, Hapoel were often toothless in attack.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Europe | Rangers 4-0 Hapoel (agg 5-2)
Gillingham, who dropped striker Darius Henderson to play Andrew Crofts in a five-man midfield, also had their moments in attack and Michael Flynn's 20-yard shot forced a smart save from keeper Colin Doyle.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Championship | Nottm Forest 2-2 Gillingham
As so often this season, Liverpool packed their midfield, leaving Milan Baros up on his own in attack in an attempt to stifle Arsenal.
As well as the turf, Villa were also doing their best to stop the Blues from hitting their stride by working hard to limit any space for Lampard in midfield and chasing back when Cole or Malouda tried to attack down the wings.
In both games they had looked light in midfield, a serious deficiency for a side so committed to attack.
Steve Davis, Grant McCann, Sammy Clingan and Damien Johnson is the likely combination in midfield, with Kyle Lafferty set to partner David Healy in attack.
After a sluggish start, Kilmarnock found their passing rhythm, with Mehdi Taouil and Alexei Eremenko pulling the strings in midfield, and Inverness were picked off on the counter-attack time-after-time.
They repeatedly battered at the line, only to see that attack break down as Jonathan Davies dropped the ball in midfield.
On the pitch, Millwall were without the injured Daniele Dichio for their first ever European trip and instead chose to pair Paul Ifill with Neil Harris in attack, with Jody Morris partnering player-boss Wise in midfield.
While Johnson busied himself in attack, Manuel Fernandes did his best to disturb Arsenal's midfield with a gritty performance.
Ancelotti sacrificed the midfield cover of Mikel at the interval to introduce Drogba in an attempt to revive a misfiring attack that had scored only three goals in their previous six games.
Hodgson employs a simple but effective 4-5-1 formation featuring an uncompromising defence, a robust but creative central midfield and two wingers who can both track back and push forward to support lone-striker Zamora in attack.
United never allowed Arsenal to get into their trademark passing rhythm, playing with more drive and energy than the Gunners, who were overrun in midfield at times and struggled to cope with the pace and variety of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo in attack.
The defensive midfield pairing looked too cautious at times and van Bommel looked ill-equipped to get forward and support an attack that dominated for long periods of time.
But fellow Italian Mancini masterminded a gritty City win, frustrating the visitors with a packed midfield and patient approach that involved getting men behind the ball and waiting for Chelsea to over-commit in attack.
BBC: Chelsea will still win Premier League - Roberto Mancini
应用推荐