Liverpool defender Glen Johnson believes that Sunday's encounter with championship rivals Chelsea will be "massive" with both clubs harbouring expectations of a Premier League title challenge.
Johnson, a former Chelsea player himself, joined the Reds from Portsmouth this summer and has produced a string of polished performances since his £18.5 million move.
Both sides head into this weekend's clash off the back of unconvincing Champions League performances, with Liverpool having lost 2-0 to Fiorentina while Chelsea narrowly edged past Apoel Nicosia 1-0 having lost to Wigan Athletic the previous Saturday.
Many players would see the opportunity to play against a former club as the perfect motivation to go out and prove a point although 25-year-old Johnson is adamant that he has nothing to prove when he returns to Stamford Bridge.
"It will be massive because you know Chelsea are going to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season and we'd like to think we will be too," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"They are doing well, but they have faults like anybody else, just as Wigan found out.
"It's going to be a massive game. I enjoy every minute that I put on a Liverpool shirt so it'll be nice to do it against one of the big teams.
"It is against an old club, but that's all behind me now and I'm just looking forward to doing the best I can for Liverpool now.
"I've got nothing to prove."
The England right-back went on to bemoan the performance against Fiorentina in midweek stating that his team-mates can't wait to put things right against Carlo Ancelotti's Blues on Sunday.
"It was a disappointing performance and result," he added.
"The lads can't wait to get out there, prove it's a one off and try to pick up points again.
"When you lose it's important you bounce back with a win.
"We have a fantastic team, a good squad and a great bunch of lads who are willing to work their socks off. If we do that from the start we can get something down there."
Johnson, a former Chelsea player himself, joined the Reds from Portsmouth this summer and has produced a string of polished performances since his £18.5 million move.
Both sides head into this weekend's clash off the back of unconvincing Champions League performances, with Liverpool having lost 2-0 to Fiorentina while Chelsea narrowly edged past Apoel Nicosia 1-0 having lost to Wigan Athletic the previous Saturday.
Many players would see the opportunity to play against a former club as the perfect motivation to go out and prove a point although 25-year-old Johnson is adamant that he has nothing to prove when he returns to Stamford Bridge.
"It will be massive because you know Chelsea are going to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season and we'd like to think we will be too," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"They are doing well, but they have faults like anybody else, just as Wigan found out.
"It's going to be a massive game. I enjoy every minute that I put on a Liverpool shirt so it'll be nice to do it against one of the big teams.
"It is against an old club, but that's all behind me now and I'm just looking forward to doing the best I can for Liverpool now.
"I've got nothing to prove."
The England right-back went on to bemoan the performance against Fiorentina in midweek stating that his team-mates can't wait to put things right against Carlo Ancelotti's Blues on Sunday.
"It was a disappointing performance and result," he added.
"The lads can't wait to get out there, prove it's a one off and try to pick up points again.
"When you lose it's important you bounce back with a win.
"We have a fantastic team, a good squad and a great bunch of lads who are willing to work their socks off. If we do that from the start we can get something down there."
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