Liverpool vs Chelsea

So for the 21st time on four years, the Red of Liverpool takes on the Blue of West London in what has become one of the most anticipated rivalries of the English football calender.

Here we go again...

Rafa said on friday that his team were confident and capable of getting victory over the only team to match our efforts in the league this season, but that the Reds would need to play a 'perfect' 90 minutes. Good job we're not playing at Old Trafford or it'd be a perfect 96 minutes.

Big Phil Scolari hasn't let his troops rest on their laurels either, saying that this team are capable of emulating Arsenal's 'Invincibles' of the 03/04 season, and given their current form, who can deny him that claim?

Suffice to say, the fact that Liverpool have won at Stamford Bridge just once since last lifting the league trophy is not directly relevant to our title drought, but winning there on Sunday would be a massive step to ending it.

Chelsea have an injury crisis apparently, not that you'd know if given their ability to put out a line-up of star-studden reserves. Chelsea fans wonder why we are still jealous of them now they've abandoned their 'Dogs of War' defensive doctorine in favour of a Samba style, well, the fact that their 2nd string team costs slightly more than the GNP of Japan and is doing so well might have something to do with it.

Mercifully they are without serial diver and egomaniac Didier Drogba, who has a nasty habit of scoring against us, but in Anelka they have someone we know all about to fill in.

The two Cole's, Joe and Knob, are both injured, though the latter former Arsenal man might be back depending on a fitness test. Essien and Ballack are both absent, but when you have Lampard and Deco to fill it it's hardly worth bothering with this...

Terry, Carvalho and Cech all made successful comebacks to first-team action in the midweek win over Roma.

If we're to stand any chance of prevailing in this fixture, the need to prevent the Chelsea full-backs from doubling up on our wide defensive areas will be key. Our wingers will need to basically play as both wing-backs and wing-forwards in order to nullify their threat.

After Liverpool fans hopes were raised earlier this week over whispers that Fernando Torres might be fit in time to play, Rafa dashed them by stating that he wouldn't make it, instead preferring to keep him progressing in time for Pompey next wednesday. Rafa is also hopeful over Robbie Keane, who faces a fitness test, while mercifully Gerrard and Alonso have been passed fit.

DAgger looks set to continue his return in the first team side, and we'll certainly not be able to afford any of his laxadaisical lethargy as demonstrated against Wigan. Seeing Luis Garcia the other night reminded me how often he used to torment the Chavs, as did John Arne Riise, how we may miss them...

Coupled with Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard, our midfield triumverate is possibly the only section of our team that can trump the Chelsea line-up even when fully fit (apart from when both teams play one striker). We can win the midfield battle, but all three will need to be on top form, and so far this season only Xabi has shown anything like that on a consistant basis.

Not since the 'next Zidane' (aka Bruno Cheyrou) scored an unlikely winner six years ago have we taken all three points in this fixture, and it seems like that long ago since any team took the same amount from Stamford Bridge.

Until last season's dramatic Champions League semi final, no Liverpool player had even scored at Stamford Bridge under Rafa Benitez, and ironically the two players who did net on that unfortunate night will both probably be missing, though Babel could be on the bench.

Last season this game turned out to be a fairly dull 0-0.

According to our pals over at Vital Chelsea (who's article I just snuck a peak at to find out) Howard Webb will be the man in charge. At least it's not Styles...

A win for Liverpool would put us in a euphoric dreamland possibly unmatched since Istanbul, or at least since Cardiff 06, however I believe that we shouldn't put too much stock in this match being the be-all and end-all. 1-1.

Pompey at home next, 8pm on Wednesday evening.

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