The match which can be considered to be the decider of the 2013-2014 title race is set to be held early this season. Last season, with an ideology loosely based on Barcelona's tiki taka, Brendan Rodgers side outplayed most teams and were set to be crowned champions. Chelsea's chances of winning the title were seen to be only mathematical. However, Jose Mourinho did not just want to sit in the dugout and be an outsider at Liverpool's championship party. He had other plans. When Steven Gerrard's slip granted Chelsea a second goal and all three points, Mourinho walked down the dugout steps knowing his job was done.
This time Liverpool is among the chasing pack, trying to keep up with Chelsea. Only Southampton, a team which is not seen as a contender and rather as a pretender, are being able to keep up with the Blues in the Premier League. Chelsea has picked up eight wins and two draws this season. They were somewhat unlucky to drop points against Manchester United, considering the timing of Robin Van Persie's equalizer. Mourinho will surely have thought that his side should have taken all three points, after having led through Didier Drogba's header. Liverpool are only seventh in the table, drawing two and winning (and losing) four out of the ten matches they have played this season.
They will be without Mamadou Sakho, Jon Flanagan, Jose Enrique and Suso. Daniel Sturridge is considered doubtful. A late fitness test was the initial consensus among Liverpool's coaches for him. His value to this Liverpool team cannot be underestimated. He is needed for a Reds victory. John Obi Mikel is the only absentee for Chelsea. Cesar Azpilicueta has served out his suspension and should return while Loic Remy has seemingly gained full fitness.
Can Liverpool extract a small measure of revenge against Chelsea for last season's defeat? Interested in learning how you can watch the 2014-15 English Premier League? Check out our EPL Multi-Platform Broadcast Guide.
Liverpool vs Chelsea team sheets
Liverpool's lineup: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Can, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Balotelli
Chelsea's lineup: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa
Liverpool's bench: Jones, Toure, Lucas, Allen, Lallana, Borini, Lambert
Chelsea's bench: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Willian, Remy, Drogba
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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