"Totally different Liverpool" promised at the Bridge
Benitez is hoping his tactics earn three points at the Bridge
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EXCLUSIVE by Martyn Thomas. |  |
Sunday, 04, Oct 2009 11:00
By Michael Younger.
Title contenders Chelsea and Liverpool will renew old rivalries at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the neutral fan hoping for a repeat of last seasons mouth-watering eight goal thriller.
There always seems to be a score to settle in this fixture and this season is no different, as it is the first chance that Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti gets to lock horns with Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez, since the Merseyside outfit pecked three goals back against AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final to lift the trophy.
The Reds will be making the trip to the capital on the back of a poor performance against Fiorentina in mid-week and Benitez has promised it will be "a totally different Liverpool" at Stamford Bridge.
Benitez is sweating on the fitness of midfielder Javier Mascherano after a hamstring injury which ruled him out in midweek.
Daniel Agger (back) is closing on full fitness and recently featured for just over an hour in a reserve fixture, but Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher look set to keep their places, despite a few shaky performances in recent weeks.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard will have a point to prove in their attacking partnership after being kept unusually quiet during the defeat to Fiorentina.
Anceloitti will be urging his team to make amends for last weekends shock away defeat to Wigan, in which keeper Petr Cech was needlessly sent off, meaning that Henrique Hilario or Ross Turnbull will deputise.
Ahead of the game, the Italian said: "Our objective is to play well because if you play well it is the best way to win. I would like to see Chelsea control the game on Sunday with intelligence. Playing against Liverpool will not be easy because they have a very good organisation defensively and they use the quality of the offensive players, of Torres and of Gerrard to attack."
The Chelsea manager is sweating on the fitness of key players, as Alex, Michael Ballack and Daniel Sturridge all struggle to be match-fit following injuries.
Didier Drogba is certain to start and Joe Cole is in contention after recovering from a long-term knee injury and will be hoping to gain more valuable pitch time.