Picking the Right Chelsea XI to Take Down Liverpool at Anfield

The context of this clash never used to be one of importance to either side, with Chelsea's battles more focused on their London rivals such as Arsenal and Tottenham and the Reds concentrated on their historic rivalry with Manchester United.

That was, of course, until the simultaneous arrivals of the club's new coaches—Jose Mourinho to Chelsea and Rafa Benitez to Liverpool—in the summer of 2004. The two were looking to make an impact at their respective clubs, and they did just that.

Several infamous incidents have occurred during the pair's hotly-contested rivalry, with Luis Garcia's 'ghost goal' perhaps the most controversial, denying Mourinho a chance to go through to the Champions League Final.

In the last eight seasons, the two clubs have faced each other 31 times, averaging four games a season, which highlights the peculiar pattern of how many times the sides have been paired up.

It's fair to say, then, that the clubs may be tired of facing each other. However, Liverpool fans will see their former coach lead out their West London opponents out onto the pitch at Anfield for the first time, as Roberto Di Matteo was in charge for the return fixture which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Will the same result occur again? Will there be controversy? You can almost sense that it will be an intriguing encounter.

Here's how we think Benitez line up his Chelsea team against his former employers Liverpool.

GK: Petr Cech

Well into his ninth year at Stamford Bridge, many goalkeepers have come to Chelsea and attempted to remove Petr Cech from his post as their No. 1 choice.

Not one has succeeded as of yet.

The reason for that is simple: Cech rarely ever slips up, and when he does, he bounces straight back. Without a doubt, his consistency between the sticks has been crucial to Chelsea's recent success since Roman Abramovich's takeover in 2003.

It's no coincidence then to discover that the team which holds the record for lowest amount of goals conceded by a Premier League club—Jose Mourinho's title-winning side in 2005—featured Cech in goal as they conceded just 14 in the 38-game campaign.

And it's no surprise that when the phrase 'world class' is mentioned, the Czech Republic goalkeeper is near the top of the list, along with other goalkeeping legends such as Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon.

His shot-stopping ability is the highest order, and the 30-year-old is a renowned leader at the back, deputizing as captain if neither John Terry nor Frank Lampard are available for selection.

With the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard set to be the ones to watch at Anfield, Chelsea can rely on their loyal servant to put in a top performance. 

DR: Branislav Ivanovic

With a bulky and an aerial ability beaten by very few, Branislav Ivanovic is exactly the man Chelsea need at right-back for the crunch game at Anfield.

Cesar Azpilicueta has been more of a regular feature in the position that was once reserved for the Serb, but his capability to play at center-back has ensured he has not been warming the bench. However, the Spaniard's lack of physical presence could cost him his place on Sunday.

The 29-year-old was a key part of their Champions League and FA Cup double last season, and it would have disappointed the Serbia captain that he lost his place so easily under Rafa Benitez.

Nevertheless, while he ventures forward and to positive effect for the Blues most of the time, his attitude is more focused on defending, and away from home this will suit Chelsea's counterattacking style.

A solid performance from Ivanovic should keep Liverpool's tricky playmaker Phillippe Coutinho quiet, and as a result, cut off the supply line to Luis Suarez, highlighting his value in a game of this stature.

DC: David Luiz

The incident in Chelsea's 2-1 defeat by Manchester City highlighted everything you need to know about David Luiz and why he is a crucial part of their community.

After a horror tackle from Sergio Aguero—which the FA confirmed he will receive no action over—Luiz did not react or attempt to gain revenge. He simply got on with the game. He stated Aguero should apologize, the striker did so (albeit a few days late) and the matter was closed.

His professional and lighthearted approach to the game is admirable; his smile that he wears permanently on his face ensures he is a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge.

Luiz possesses a passion for the game which indicates why he tries to lead his teammates on the pitch in the absence of John Terry. And this will be important in a stadium as hostile as Anfield, with the home crowd spurred on by the Merseyside faithful.

The 26-year-old may need to contain his emotions; at times he is susceptible to letting his temper boil over and making challenges which are unnecessary.

Nevertheless, his presence in the side is more a favorable aspect rather than negative. And if he manages to keep Suarez quiet, it could be a successful night for the Brazilian. 

DC: John Terry

John Terry likes playing in the big games. As a football player and Chelsea man through and through, his motivation is to win the biggest games. And as captain, it is his job to motivate his teammates too.

What better way to motivate them other than scoring the opening goal? That's what he did in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge before coming off after just 40 with knee ligament damage after a late tackle from Luis Suarez.

No one will be as hungry as Terry to get back on the pitch and put Liverpool to the sword. The 32-year-old may have lost another yard in pace, but his ability to read the game and position himself means he is still one of the best defenders around.

The former England international has only featured intermittently this season, due to injury and suspension, and while Rafa Benitez may not have total faith in featuring Terry in every game he is available for, he will be sure to make his playing time worthwhile.

Keeping Suarez quiet will be the perfect revenge and maybe scoring another goal would be the icing on the top of the cake.

DL: Ashley Cole

After receiving an early injury blow in the FA Cup quarter final win over Manchester United, Chelsea will be delighted to welcome back Ashley Cole for the game against Liverpool.

The 31-year-old is due to miss the West London derby with Fulham on Wednesday but is due to recover in time to face the Reds.

And the England left-back, who recently reached the impressive landmark of 100 caps under Roy Hodgson, will be desperate to get back into action after missing the defeats to Rubin Kazan and Manchester City.

Rafa Benitez has struggled to fill the void left by Cole's injury with Ryan Bertrand also unavailable, and Paulo Ferreira was a rare inclusion against Rubin Kazan. In that game, Cole's attacking mentality and defensive awareness were sorely missed.

His hunger to play will undoubtedly fare favorably for him; up against either Stewart Downing or Raheem Sterling, Cole is capable enough of stopping his opponents as well as giving them some problems to deal with.

MC: John Obi Mikel

If there were a phrase to sum up John Obi Mikel's performances for Chelsea in his seven years at the club, it would be somewhere in the region of 'solid yet uninspiring'.

Yet the Nigerian midfielder has really shown his worth to the season, highlighting his improvement at the club as questions were asked about his future at the club.

Under Andre Villas-Boas, it appeared Mikel could have been heading towards the exit as the 25-year-old was barely given a sniff at first-team football. However, the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo revived Mikel and as a result, he established himself as a revitalized figure at Stamford Bridge.

His passing still requires work, and the very fact that he is yet to score a Premier League goal for the club in 180 attempts means he should not be venturing forward. Rather, sitting deep in the holding midfield position is what Mikel appears to do best.

But he is still young and yet to enter his prime; by the time he does that, he should be considered as one of the best in his position. And against Liverpool, he will be crucial in breaking up the play and halting Steven Gerrard from making an impact.

MC: Frank Lampard

Two more goals and Frank Lampard ensures he is Chelsea's best player of all time—surely there can be no argument against that, right?

Despite what the fans may say, the 34-year-old should be held in higher regard than Didier Drogba. After all, Lampard has been through it all during his 12 years at Stamford Bridge, even despite his former teammate's heroic eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

And you can imagine it now: Lampard scoring a magnificent hat-trick at the Kop end of Anfield, silencing the critics who condemned him for his horror tackle on Xabi Alonso in 2005, which resulted in a red card for Lampard and a broken ankle for his opponent.

That hat-trick would also take him to a total of 203 goals, one more than the record total set by Bobby Tambling. And with Lampard's time coming to an end in West London, it could be the only chance for him to do it.

His playmaking abilities, albeit from a deeper position these days due to his advancing years, are still outstanding. His assist totals may be lower than usual but it's mainly Juan Mata's job to create. For Lampard, retaining possession and scoring from long range is what he is limited to.

Hungry to succeed in what could be his last visit to Anfield, you can visualize Lampard leaving a winner with the matchball.

AMR: Ramires

Playing the tireless midfielder Ramires on the right side may seem like an odd move, but should it be deployed, it would be a tactic of caution from Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard is known to favor the Brazilian playing on the wing in the instance of an attacking full-back for the opposition, and Liverpool have that in Jose Enrique.

Former left-back Enrique enjoys surging forward, overlapping Phillippe Coutinho at times with sheer athleticism, and it will be up to the ex-Benfica man Ramires to track his runs and snuff out his advances.

It will be a blow not having the £18-million man in the middle of the park making his trademark surging runs through the Liverpool midfield. On the other hand, with his lack of technical ability, it seems it could be a shrewd piece of tactical nous from Benitez.

His pace should be more than a match against Enrique, and perhaps the 26-year-old can give him counterpart something to be worried about.

AMC: Juan Mata

It remains a mystery as to why Juan Mata is a name that is not being considered for the PFA Player of the Year.

The little Spaniard is still only 24 years old, which defies belief in itself. His displays for Chelsea since his £26 million move from Valencia in 2011 have been nothing short of magical, and his record? It is something out of this world, let me assure you.

This season, Mata has scored 18 goals, but the highly impressive statistic is in addition to his 24 assists. His contributions mean that the playmaker has been involved in 42 goals in his 58 appearances this season—a stunning return from the Spain international.

His creativity helps make Chelsea flow as a team. Dropping into pockets of space just outside the opposition's penalty area, his exquisite execution of passes usually find their targets. A perfect example was his incredible assist for Demba Ba in the FA Cup against Manchester United.

Without him, Chelsea are weakened. His influence cannot be underlined more than it is right now, and the fact that he is rested for the big games suggests Rafa Benitez knows he is the club's key man. 

One thing is beginning to become more evident: no Mata, no success for the Blues.

AML: Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard has made an impressive start to his Chelsea career, making a significant impact after his £32-million move from Lille, and it seems that he will have a bright future at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian winger has settled in quickly and adapted well to the physical nature of the Premier League, bulking up his slight frame to cope with the inevitable knocks that come with playing in England.

His direct style of attacking has been a breath of fresh air for the Blues—something they haven't had among their ranks since the days of Arjen Robben and Damien Duff.

Agile and lightning quick, Hazard likes to take on his opponent, and former Blue Glen Johnson will have a difficult task in keeping his involvement limited in the game.

Capable of scoring or assisting his teammates, Hazard is the main danger for Chelsea on the ball. And with strikes against Manchester United and West Ham, expect him to test Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.

ST: Fernando Torres

This is the game that every Liverpool fan has been waiting for, the chance to condemn their former striker Fernando Torres as a failure after his £50 million move two years ago.

However, this season seems to be a partly revitalized Torres, rather than the striker who had previously gone 24 hours of football without scoring a goal.

Nineteen goals in all competitions show that perhaps the Spain international is finally finding his feet at Stamford Bridge. And while many put it down to his new 'Zorro' style mask, there's an underlying reason for his vast improvement.

His confidence has been lifted by Rafa Benitez's arrival, which have resulted in great goals against Steaua Bucharest and Rubin Kazan recently.

Furthermore, the service he is receiving is much better, with playmakers Frank Lampard and Juan Mata constantly searching for a ball that Torres can latch onto. It's the style he knows best, and it seems to be working for him.

Liverpool know what is required to stop the former Atletico Madrid striker: stopping the supply line. If they can isolate him from the rest of the Chelsea players, he may endure a torrid return to Anfield.

If he scores, emotions will be running high for Liverpool's former hero. The fact that Chelsea have won 100 percent of the games Torres has scored in will give the 29-year-old the motivation to score, if he doesn't have enough already.