Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge could be restored to left-back after
picking up a knock against Tottenham last weekend.

Adrian Mutu, Celestine Babayaro and Arjen Robben are still sidelined
and will not feature against Liverpool.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez may make changes as his side try to
avoid a fourth successive away defeat.

Harry Kewell and Stephen Warnock are jostling for a place on the
left, while Milan Baros and Djibril Cisse are in a tussle for the
solo striking role.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Pidgeley, Ferreira, Johnson,
Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Huth, Bridge, Tiago, Makelele, Lampard,
Smertin, Geremi, Parker, Cole, Duff, Drogba, Gudjohnsen, Kezman.

Liverpool (from): Dudek, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Warnock,
Kewell, Hamann, Alonso, Garcia, Finnan, Cisse, Baros, Pongolle,
Kirkland, Diao, Traore, Biscan, Henchoz.



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BIG-MATCH FACTS


CHELSEA against Liverpool pits two of England's Champions League
representatives, who experienced differing fortunes midweek. The
Londoners impressively defeated holders Porto 3-1 at Stamford Bridge
and are defending an unbeaten Premiership start, while Liverpool,
losers in Greece for the first time in their club history (1-0 by
Olympiakos) are attempting to win a League game on the road for the
first time in this campaign.

The Blues boast the Premiership's tightest defence. They've kept
three clean sheets on the bounce, and James Beattie's 12 second goal
for Southampton at the Bridge is the only top flight strike they
have shipped under Jose Mourinho. But, a goal a game return, is only
the 14th best strike rate in the top flight.

Before their first ever home loss to Liverpool in the Premiership in
January, Chelsea had recorded seven successive victories at the
Bridge over the Merseysiders - the last four being 2-0, 3-0, 4-0 and
2-1 victories. They then broke their Premiership duck at Anfield
with a 1-2 victory in August last year, but were unable to complete
the 'double'.

LIVERPOOL head for west London in search of back to back victories
there, following their first ever Premiership victory at Stamford
Bridge in 11 attempts in this corresponding fixture last January.

The Reds have managed just one point from a possible nine on their
travels, and have lost their last three away from Anfield in all
competitions.

Bruno Cheyrou struck his first Premiership goal to secure all three
points for the Merseysiders in that fixture at the Bridge in
January. It was a desperately disappointing night for Chelsea.
Adrian Mutu thumped a header against the crossbar late on for them,
and Liverpool's El Hadji Diouf was harshly red-carded for an
apparent accidental late collision with Mutu.
Referee:

Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)


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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

CHELSEA

Going into the weekend: 2nd 17 points

Yet to lose in any competition this season.
Undefeated in nine League and Cup games (seven wins, two draws).
Beaten Manchester United (1-0 h), Birmingham (0-1 a), Crystal Palace
(0-2 a) and Southampton (2-1 h), drawn 0-0 away to Aston Villa and 0-
0 home to Tottenham, and won 0-1 at Middlesbrough so far in the
Premiership.
Unbeaten in 10 Premiership games.
Won seven and drawn three since losing 2-1, away to Newcastle, on 25
April.
Kept more clean sheets than any other club in the Premiership this
term.
Kept the opposition at bay in six of the seven League games so far.
(Managed 32 block-outs last season in all competitions, 21 in the
Premiership).
Hold the tightest defence in the top division - just one goal
conceded in ten and a half hours of Premiership football (excluding
stoppage time).
James Beattie's goal for Southampton at Stamford Bridge on 28
August, is the only score Chelsea have conceded this League season.
In Beattie's strike, the Londoners have conceded the quickest goal
in the Premiership this season (after just 12 seconds).
Scored just one goal in 319 minutes (five hours 19 minutes) of
Premiership football.
Not conceded in 359 minutes (five hours 59 minutes) of top flight
soccer.
Gone ten League matches since conceding more than a single goal (2-1
loss at Newcastle on 25 April).
Completed 27 Premiership clashes since losing by more than a single
goal (4-2, away to Charlton on Boxing Day 2003).
Undefeated in nine home League games.
Won six and drawn three at the Bridge, since losing 1-2 to Arsenal
on 21 February.
Even 17 points from seven games does not match last season's start,
when Chelsea accrued 19 points from the first seven and 20 points
from the first eight.




LIVERPOOL

Going into the weekend: 8th 10 points

Won three of the last five in all competitions.
Ten points from six games is Liverpool's worst start since 1999 when
they had gained only nine points by this stage, and ten points after
the first seven.
Shipped more than a single goal only once in the Premiership this
term (2-1 defeat away to Manchester United on 20 September).
Conceded in excess of a solitary goal in one of the last 12
Premiership outings, and in two of the last 17.
Not scored nor conceded in the first and last quarter hours of top
flight matches this season.
Yet to collect a League maximum on the road this term (one draw, two
defeats, two goals scored and four shipped).


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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

CHELSEA


Squad profiles

If on the field at kick off, Claude MAKELELE will be making his 50th
start for Chelsea.
LIVERPOOL


Squad profiles

If he plays, Harry KEWELL will be making his 300th appearance for an
English club (Leeds and Liverpool).


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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
7 January 2004 - Ref: Steve Dunn
Liverpool scorer: Cheyrou 33
Sent Off: Diouf (Liverpool) 87



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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Chelsea 39 wins, Liverpool 57, Draws 26
Prem: Chelsea 9 wins, Liverpool 10, Draws 5

HEAD TO HEAD at Chelsea
League: Chelsea 33 wins, Liverpool 15, Draws 13
Prem: Chelsea 8 wins, Liverpool 1, Draws 3