(A) Chelsea - Pre Match Thoughts

Premier League

                                            Sunday 11th November 2012
                                            Stamford Bridge

                                       Chelsea VS Liverpool

Of all the football teams that there are in this league, all the rivals that only ever seem to intensify, none have had more influence over Liverpool Football Club in it's recent history more than Chelsea. Once upon a time we clashed to get into the Champions League and Rafa Benitez's term as manager was littered with iconic meetings between the two clubs. Even as recently as last season, the campaign was seemingly defined by that heartbreaking loss to Roberto Di Matteo's side in the FA Cup Final.  It's the turn of Brendan Rodgers to feel that weight of history. He's been here before, when he was a part of the Chelsea back-room staff. Never before will he have walked the corridors and stood in the dressing rooms at Stamford Bridge with more to gain. Losing here - against a side which could easily give Manchester's United and City a run for their money in the title race - would come with no shame nor surprise. Win it however and suddenly everything looks a lot brighter for Brendan Rodgers.

 If recent history is anything to go by, we have little to fear from today. Having won the last three visits to Stamford Bridge in the league, as well as coming here last year and dumping them out of the league cup, certainly there is every reason for the players to feel confident in getting a result. This Chelsea side are a much different animal to the shambles which presided over the Villas-Boas era and has even evolved beyond the team which managed to edge by us at Wembley in May. Eden Hazard and Oscar have come into this team and given it a much needed freshening up, coupled with the form of the ever impressive Juan Mata and we have on our hands a team that appears to be able to score at will.

Given their offensive strength, this will be the teams biggest test so far this season in terms of trying to keep a clean sheet. There has been the suggestion that we're going to be delivered a blow in that area too, with Martin Skrtel missing the game with a virus and Jamie Carragher coming in to replace him. Also, it's been heavily mooted that we will once again be playing with three at the back, much like we did so well against both Everton and Anzhi. Normally I'd favour having Coates over Carragher but for this game and this system, I think it could definitely work.

 As ever, there will be a lot of talk surrounding the two front men of either team. This time it seems to be the issue of whether they might be teammates in the future. There's been no suggestion from the club in regard to Fernando Torres' potential return to Anfield but that hasn't stopped the rumour mill continuing to run with it. I really don't know how I'd feel if it happened and while I do think it's a possibility, the chances are remote at best. Onto the striker that we do have, it's fair to say that if Chelsea can thwart Luis Suarez then it's unlikely we will be taking anything from this game. His scoring rate has been very good so far and while our over reliance on him is a little alarming, it speaks to the talent of a man who can do brilliant things like he did against Newcastle last week. It's also the one area of the pitch in which our opponents do look vulnerable, conceding more than enough goals in the league and the match up between David Luiz and Suarez does look like one in which we can come out on top.

 Even when we were a lot better than we are right now, this is the kind of game in which you'd be happy with a point. Our recent good record in this fixture counts for nothing and if anything means they're more likely to buck the recent trend of Liverpool victories. The match winner last season - Glen Johnson - will return and that will be a huge boost for us, given both his obvious talent and connection with the club he's looking to go back and haunt once again. I don't think it's impossible to go here and get a result today but it would be very impressive. We always put in a performance in these kind of games and in many ways, Wigan at Anfield next week is more important for that very reason. Whatever we pick up here will be a welcome bonus to that.