VS
This weekend's match-up between Chelsea and Liverpool is truly a battle of the titans - not just on the pitch, but also in the dugout.
Read moreFor while the Premier League's second- and third-placed teams wrestle for the upper hand in the title race, their managers will be embroiled in a tactical tussle of similarly storied proportions.
Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez have twice faced each other in the final of the UEFA Champions League, and the ledger stands square at once triumph apiece - the Spaniard's Reds snatching a famous victory in Istanbul in 2005, the Italian's AC Milan outfit making amends in Athens two years later.
For both gaffers and their respective charges, this meeting marks their first opportunity this season to show whether they have what it takes to trump their fellow 'Big Four' clubs - and there are doubts as to whether either will rise to the occasion.
The Blues began the campaign in blistering fashion, setting the pace with six wins on the trot. That hot streak came to an icy end last weekend, however, when they fell 3-1 at Wigan Athletic; and the midweek 1-0 victory at APOEL Nicosia has hardly inspired confidence.
The men from Merseyside, meanwhile, endured a dodgy start - which included losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in their first three games - before embarking on a six-game winning run of their own (across all competitions), culminating in the 6-1 mauling of Hull City last Saturday.
But all that progress was halted on Tuesday when a Steven Jovetic-inspired Fiorentina eased past the Anfield giants in the Champions League, once more raising questions as to whether Benitez's squad - so dominant against the big boys last season - can cut it against competitive opposition.
Thus, it promises to be an intriguing contest as both the hosts and the visitors chase their best form. Chelsea will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their last league meeting at Stamford Bridge, when a deflected Xabi Alonso strike saw Liverpool end the London club's record unbeaten run at home.
Possible Lineups:
Chelsea:
Hilario, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, A. Cole, Essien, Kalou, Malouda, Lampard, Drogba, Anelka.
Liverpool:
Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun, Torres.
My heart wants Liverpool, but Chelsea seems strong this season...I predict a 3-1 for Chelsea.
CFC win 1-0 or 2-1
Oh wait, I truly despise Chelsea end of....
Shit I do seriously hope we meet in CL...AGAIN...and at Anfield u and your whining little diddy men are gonna get fucked over..enjoy the moment Abramos pocket money lover...
mate, I used to like Chelsea way back when even at the time Kerry Dixon was playing. I've even experienced the chair throwing at railway stations in Crewe when Chelsea came to Liverpool.
The Chelsea I see today makes me sad, really, and I'm afraid this could also happen to Liverpool if these far east buyers are allowed to move in.
And get a grip, go to Stamford Bridge and hear what even the Chelsea fans are saying about Drogba..
:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
<3 sup toss?