Preview: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Chelsea entertain Liverpool this Sunday in a clash that sees the top two in the Premier League meet. Liverpool, surprisingly still in the title race at this stage of the season, arrive full of their normal bullish charm threatening to wreck our home record. All we`ll say is bring it on, in Luiz Felipe Scolari we trust!

Vital Quotes:

With us having already featured Alonso in our look at those who live in a dream world when it comes to winning at Stamford Bridge, we thought, for our preview, we`d feature Robbie Keane. After his ridiculously over-priced move to Anfield, he`s come up with this gem on the eve of the fixture, "It will be tough on Sunday because they are doing so well and haven`t been beaten for so long at home. But the way I look at it records are there to be broken. We are doing well too and we have to be confident we can go there and get a result." Yeah right!

Chelsea Team News:

Luiz Felipe Scolari`s squad is in slightly better shape for this encounter than the one last week at Middlesbrough. It`s expected that the he`ll be able to recall Ashley Cole (if required) and will also be able to take advantage of Deco (who returned last weekend), Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho (who both returned in midweek) Indeed, for once, a Sunday kick-off has benefited us with the medical staff having a little extra time to nurse those who have just come back towards a second game in a week. Definitely out though are Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba with the latter being ten days, maximum, away from a comeback. Here at Vital Chelsea we expect Scolari to start with the following eleven - Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, A.Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Deco, Malouda, Anelka and Kalou. Once again the bench could see a smattering of youth with Stoch and Sinclair the most likely duo to be granted the privilege of being part of the first team squad.

Player to watch: Frank Lampard

In a class of his own this season, we see no reason why he shouldn`t run Steven Gerrard very close for Ickle Stevie`s obligatory man-of-tjhe0match award.

Liverpool Team News:

You can hear those who`ve won it five times already preparing their excuses when they get another drive north with no points form a trip to Stamford Bridge. With Fernando Torres out and Robbie Keane doubtful, the cries of - "we never had our full squad available" will be emanating from every Scouser`s mouth in the land. However, Liverpool will have Alonso and Gerrard both available as they seek to become the first team in almost five years to win at Stamford Bridge. As for their line-up, do we really care? Let them worry about ours!

Player to watch: Steven Gerrard

Already the match sponsors are etching his name onto the man-of-the-match award, the others involved are merely playing second fiddle to the best midfield player the world has ever seen! (he jests)!

Match Facts & Stats

It seems as if we`ve played Liverpool far too many times for comfort in recent years, nevertheless they`re always much anticipated affairs. Looking back through the history books, in games between the two sides at Stamford Bridge we hold the upper hand with the statistics as follows, In the Premier League - Chelsea 11 wins, Liverpool 1 wins, Draws 4 In all League matches - Chelsea 36 wins, Liverpool 15 wins, Draws 14 Interestingly, Rafa Benitez has yet to triumph at Stamford Bridge and in five meetings last season Liverpool didn`t once beat us. Last season, the corresponding fixture saw Liverpool eek out a 0-0 draw with a defensive formation.

Ref Watch:

Howard Webb, of Yorkshire, will be the man in charge.

Match Prediction:

With both teams currently unbeaten in the Premier League and only separated by goal difference, something, you`d think, has to give tomorrow afternoon. However, we doubt whether Liverpool will arrive with a gung-ho attitude, it isn`t in Rafa`s make up to do so, as normal it`ll be a tight game with one team emerging narrow victors and that`ll be us! 2-1 with Lampard netting the winner.

Next Fixtures:

For our next fixture we travel to high flying Hull City, in a game that, at the moment of writing, pits top against third, not a bad follow on from a top versus second is it?