Before the international break, Chelsea FC were able to improve on their already impressive campaign thus far with a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield. Many Chelsea supporters would consider this a rivalry game, but is it really? In this day and age, how do we distinguish who are rivals and who aren’t? What factors must be considered when a game is to be considered a “derby” match.
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One of the main reasons why Chelsea and Liverpool fans alike look forward to the fixture is because of the big name players involved. Liverpool have one of the most historic clubs in not only English football, but world football, and usually run out multiple world class players. Within the past decade, Chelsea have been able to match Liverpool player for player, making the match a star studded affair. It has no doubt become a Premier League glamour match, but does that outweigh other factors?
History has to play a factor, but Chelsea do not have a lengthy history of heated affairs with clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, yet those are three of the most anticipated games on the schedule. As Chelsea have become more consistent in their title chase(s), these games have become the bigger one’s, regardless of what history says.
For example, Liverpool have not beaten Chelsea since May 8th 2012, a game in which the blues had one eye on the champions league final. It could be argued that Chelsea don’t have a derby match as heated as the North London Derby, or the Merseyside derby, because of this, should the rivalries that may have manifested themselves within the past 10-15 years be considered the big matches?
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For Chelsea in particular, it seems as if location does little in determining who the fans look forward to facing. The blues have healthy rivalries with Arsenal and Tottenham, but games against clubs such as Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, and West Ham seem to be treated differently. The distance between Stamford Bridge and Anfield is 218 miles, 209 miles to Old Trafford, yet there is only a three mile distance between Stamford Bridge and Loftus Road.
And what role does the media play in this situation? The English Premier League is the most watched, and most covered football league in the world. Every game is available, as well as pre-game, post-game, highlights, and numerous other forms of coverage. To help maintain ratings, the network(s) will obviously promote the bigger matchups, in this case, does it turn Chelsea fans, specifically newer one’s away from the more local derbies?
So, football fans and Chelsea fans. What exactly makes a rivalry? Strength of opponent, location, media hype? Are rivalries static or fluent? For Chelsea fans, does getting one over, on say, Crystal Palace feel as good as it would against Manchester City? Sound off in the comment section, or through social media!
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