Babel Striking Out For More Chances

ON an afternoon packed with positives for Liverpool, it was a contribution that could easily have been overlooked.

Few were left in any doubt of the Anfield outfit’s championship credentials as they brought an emphatic end to Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten home league record with a richly-merited 1-0 triumph.

From the dogged defending of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger, the mixture of steel and skill of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in midfield and the incisive probings of Steven Gerrard and Albert Riera, Liverpool possessed the game’s stellar performers.
But it was from the bench that another, less obvious impact was made.

With Robbie Keane having played through the pain barrier in the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, the Irishman was replaced on the hour by Ryan Babel.

Babel has been a frustratingly inconsistent performer since arriving from Ajax for £11.5million last summer, having so far only once played the full 90 minutes in a Premier League match.

The 21-year-old’s most effective performances have come as a substitute, having already this season netted the match-winner against Manchester United.

And Babel again played his part on Sunday by busying the Chelsea back-line and ensuring the game remained stretched, twice coming close to scoring himself.

The continued absence of Torres and concerns over Keane’s fitness mean Babel could be handed his first league start of the campaign when Portsmouth visit Anfield this evening.

And Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says: “When we signed Riera we thought of Babel being more of a striker. Ryan is still a young player. Some Dutch players come to England for only one or two years.

“In this case, this is his second year and he was injured at the start coming back from the Olympic Games.

“But he is giving us something more and I was really pleased with him the other day at Chelsea. I think that was the perfect game for him.

“At that time we needed pace and power and ability, so he could cope with the two centre-backs. He could beat them, it was perfect for him and really good for him.”

Nine of Babel’s 11 goals have come as substitute, with 27 of his 58 appearances coming from the bench.

Benitez believes the Holland international remains most effective as an impact player for now, but is confident Babel can soon make the progression to producing the same threat over the full 90 minutes.

“Clearly there is a massive difference when you are talking about a player with pace, normally their stamina levels are not the same,” says the Liverpool manager.

“To do the same thing 20 times at maximum intensity, it’s not easy, so they need time to rest. For these kind of players to play 90 minutes at this pace and high tempo is impossible. That is the reason why he can make a massive difference in 20-30 minutes.”

Benitez has dismissed the suggestion Liverpool could struggle to cope with the unique pressure of leading from the front, and points to the wealth of experience behind the scenes.

“The people in the staff – Sammy Lee, Mauricio Pellegrino – have experience and the players have won the Champions League, which is a massive trophy,” he says. “We have some experience of that. I have won the league in Spain, too.

“The first year we came from behind at Valencia, but the second year for a long time we were on top of the table. If we can stay there in three weeks’ time we will start feeling pressure. But that is good.

“People said we were like a machine in that second season. We had the balance. We were attacking very well and defending well.

“That team had the balance. We were attacking. We lost the last game against Albacete 1-0 when we were champions and by just scoring one goal we would have scored more goals than Real Madrid, who scored something like 71 goals, and we conceded less than anyone else. So we had the balance. Being a machine was a compliment.”

Liverpool face a tricky next two games. Both Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur, who Benitez’s side visit at the weekend, have installed new managers in the last few days, with Harry Redknapp moving from Fratton Park to White Hart Lane with Tony Adams his replacement.

“You don’t know if it is good or bad for them because the players want to impress the new manager,” says Benitez. “Always it’s a risk. To change the manager is always very dangerous in terms of the results at the end, but the first two or three weeks you always have more motivation so it’s difficult.”

Of Adams, the Liverpool manager adds: “He was a fantastic player, and he won a lot of trophies with a very good Arsenal team. So everybody knows he has experience on the pitch as a player and now he will need to have more experience as a manager and that is something very different.”

Liverpool will come up against former striker Peter Crouch tonight, who moved back to the South Coast after scoring 42 goals in 134 appearances during three seasons at Anfield.

“Normally when you come back to a club you want to show you are a good player,” says Benitez. “But in this case, I think Crouch is a fantastic lad and we wanted to keep him. But he wanted to play every week.

“So he is playing well and scoring goal so I will be happy to see him and wish him all the best, but not in this game.”

Chelsea Coach Ray Wilkins Writes Off Loss To Liverpool As A 'Blip'

Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins has dismissed defeat by Liverpool as nothing more than a blip and has tipped his side to bounce back and go on another long unbeaten run.

Xabi Alonso's goal for Liverpool inflicted the first defeat that Chelsea had suffered at Stamford Bridge in 86 League games spanning more than four seasons and while Wilkins says the atmosphere after the game was of immense disappointment he says they have the strength of character to help them go on another run.

Wilkins says that captain John Terry, who is celebrating ten years since his debut this week, at the club is a massive bonus as he is a strong leader who is able to help pick the players up.

The Chelsea coach said: "The atmosphere after the game was like a morgue; the players were very down because of the standards they set themselves.

"The disappointment was not that the record had gone, but that we had lost three points to Liverpool.

"John Terry is different class around the place, we need men around and we are lucky to have him.

"When you think about what happened last season, losing the Carling Cup final, second in the League and missing out on the Champions League on penalties, then Sunday was just a blip.

"They have shown their character in the past to come back from disappointment, so we know they can come back from this and go on another run."

Chelsea travel to Hull City next and while Wilkins has been impressed with Phil Brown's side, he believes it will be difficult for them to continue their run - which featured only one defeat - for the rest of the season.

He said: "It will be difficult for them to maintain their form because they play with so much energy and if you are doing that for 90 minutes week in, week out it gets hard.

"They have amassed 20 points so far and I am sure Phil Brown will be looking to get the next 20 points as quickly as possible and see them safe and then kick on from there.

"It is going to be a very difficult season for all the promoted clubs and the adrenalin rush at the beginning is immense, but it will be tough.

"However, they have demonstrated they can play and one defeat won't burst that bubble, but we are looking to inflict that defeat."

Benitez Sets Sights On Pompey

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has called on his Premier League leaders to remain focused as they prepare to face Portsmouth on Wednesday.

The Reds ended Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten home record with a 1-0 success at Stamford Bridge on Sunday but Benitez is warning his players not to get carried away with the success.

Liverpool are now three points clear at the top of the table and enjoying their best start to a Premier League campaign.

"We need three points in our next game against Portsmouth if we are going to keep this mentality," said Benitez.

"We have to come down and start thinking about Portsmouth. We knew it was important to beat Manchester United but then we drew with Stoke.

"But clearly if you want to stay at the top of the table for a long time you have to beat almost everyone because Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal will be behind you.

"To win at Chelsea and stay top of the table unbeaten is a massive message for the other teams.

"It was a massive game and to come here with the mentality we had and with the players showing the character they did, it was a big boost for the rest of the season.

"We have belief, we have quality and we have shown by coming from behind in other games this season, that we have character. At least this is enough to be top of the table for now."

Liverpool clinched victory thanks to Xabi Alonso's first-half shot which was deflected past Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech by Jose Bosingwa.

Alonso almost made it two when his free-kick struck the foot of a post in the second half.

The visitors were always in charge and Ashley Cole's wayward shot from eight yards was their best chance of levelling the scores.

It was Chelsea's first defeat at home in the league since Arsenal beat them 2-1 in February 2004.

Now, Benitez believes they have the belief to go anywhere and win.

"We can go to any stadium and win games. Against a very good Chelsea team, a very offensive team, we showed we were thinking about winning," he added.

Riera Keen To Maintain Momentum

Liverpool winger Albert Riera is confident the Reds can maintain their early-season momentum following Sunday's win over Chelsea.

Reira told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Chelsea was a massive game and it was important for us and our supporters.

"Now we are unbeaten and are strong like Chelsea.

"People know we want to continue at the top and it will be difficult to beat us," the 26-year-old Spain international said.

Reira has been a regular in Rafa Benitez's side since joining from Espanyol in the close-season and has featured in their victories over Everton, Manchester United and Chelsea this season.

But he is refusing to get carried away with his promising start to life at Anfield.

"I think always you can be better, this is the thing I have in my mind now," he said.

"The best way to progress is to think 'I can be better and I can help the team more.'

"I can progress a little more but when you win you can be happy," he added.

Liverpool Boss Benitez: "We Can Go To Any Stadium And Win Games"

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has claimed that his Reds side “can go to any stadium and win games” after the Merseyside club ended Chelsea’s 86 match unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Midfielder’s Xabi Alonso’s first half deflected goal was enough to secure the three points in the top-of-the-table clash with Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side, with Liverpool now three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Benitez believes that by winning at Chelsea and remaining unbeaten has sent a “massive message” to their Premiership rivals, while hailing the “character” of his Anfield side.

“To win here and stay top of the table unbeaten is a massive message for the other teams,” said Benitez.

“It was a massive game and to come here with the mentality we had and with the players showing the character they did, it was a big boost for the rest of the season.

“We have belief, we have quality and we have shown by coming from behind in other games this season, that we have character. At least this is enough to be top of the table for now.

“But we need three points in our next game against Portsmouth if we are going to keep this mentality.

“We can go to any stadium and win games. Today, against a very good team, a very offensive team, we showed we were thinking about winning.

“The players know what to do and it is difficult for the opposition to create chances. Chelsea had some chances but their final pass was not the best on occasions.

“They didn't have too many chances. My players were really good and all credit to them. When you have players with quality and they work so hard, you have a winning team.

“But we have to come down and start thinking about Portsmouth. We knew it was important to beat Manchester United but then we drew with Stoke.

“But clearly if you want to stay at the top of the table for a long time you have to beat almost everyone because Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal will be behind you.”

Gerrard: Pressure Starts Now

Steven Gerrard has played down Liverpool's achievement in topping the Premier League table and warned his team-mates the hard work is about to start.

Rafael Benitez's side showed their title credentials on Sunday with a 1-0 at Stamford Bridge that ended Chelsea's record-breaking unbeaten home run.

That gave them a three-point cushion over the Blues and came on the back of a victory over Manchester United earlier this season.

Ahead of Wednesday's visit of Portsmouth, Gerrard told The Times: "It's important not to get carried away. We're still only in October.

"We're in a nice position in the league, but Chelsea are a fantastic side, who will come back, and Manchester United will be there or thereabouts.

"We've won nothing yet. It was a massive win and three big points, but if we slip up against Portsmouth, those points will be irrelevant.

"To win this league and become champions, you have to handle the pressure of being at the top.

"That's the challenge for us now. Can we handle being top of the league? We've done superbly well so far, we're unbeaten, and we have to keep that going now, starting against Portsmouth."

Jamie Carragher: Liverpool FC Can Handle Pressure At The Top

JAMIE CARRAGHER insists Liverpool’s players can handle the pressure of leading from the front – because being top of the Premier League is where they expect to be.

Their unbeaten start to the season continued on Sunday when they won 1-0 at Chelsea, a victory which took them three points clear of their opponents.

The win, which ended the Londoners’ 86-game unbeaten home record in the league, is being widely regarded as evidence that Liverpool are finally ready to make a serious bid for their first title win since 1990.

And they have only dropped four points in their first nine games, during their best start to a season in 18 years.

But Carragher reckons that the quality of the squad at Anfield is now strong enough to convince him that they should be in that position – and has warned that they have to prove it by staying there.

“We’re not going to get too carried away – we’re Liverpool,” said the centre-back. “Don’t get me wrong, we’re delighted with the win (at Chelsea) but we’re not getting carried away at being top of the league after nine games.

“That’s where we should be. We’re a massive club with a lot of top players, so we’re only doing what we should be doing.

“Chelsea hadn’t lost in four years at home, and that’s the first time I’ve ever won at Chelsea and I’ve been playing for 10 years now. It’s a tough place to go and credit to them for their record, but I’m just delighted we’re the team that has broken it.

“It’s a great result that no other side has managed over the last four years, so it’s something to be enjoyed.

“But we’ve got Portsmouth next, and if we don’t get a good result there then we won’t have really capitalised on this win.”

Carragher added: “Being top of the league, we’re now going to be the team people will look to beat.

I’m sure people will talk about us more.

“We’re going to have to deal with that now.

“But we’ve got a lot of experienced players, big internationals who have won trophies before.It’s something we will have to handle.”

Portsmouth arrive at Anfield tomorrow as a club in limbo following manager Harry Redknapp’s sudden switch to Tottenham at the weekend.

Assistant manager Tony Adams and coach Joe Jordan are currently in charge of the side but the immediate future of the club is uncertain amid fears many players may follow Redknapp to White Hart Lane in January.

Liverpool follow the visit of Pompey with a trip to Tottenham on Saturday but Carragher is confident that they can avoid a similar slip-up to the one which followed their previous victory over a top four rival.

The 2-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield in September was followed by a goalless draw with Stoke City that threw up immediate question-marks over their ability to sustain the consistency needed for a title challenge.

But Carragher said: “There was a lot of talk at the time about the result, but that kind of thing happens from time to time. It’s not like we were getting complacent about anything.

“We were very unlucky against Stoke and nine times out of 10 we’d have won that game.

“But for most of the season we’ve done quite well and we want to push on now.

“We’ve got Portsmouth next and then Tottenham, and there’s a lot of stuff going on with those two clubs at the moment. You can never tell how they are going to react, so I’m sure the next two games will be tough, but we’ve got to aim to take maximum points.”

Alonso Proving Liverpool Can Do Without Barry

As Jamie Carragher once so delicately put it, Xabi Alonso does not tend to command "short odds on the first goalscorer betting slip".

So it was of no surprise to anyone that he was quick yesterday to claim as his own the deflected goal which put Liverpool top of the pile on Sunday.

"It was my goal," Alonso said of the effort which Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa deflected past Petr Cech.

"The shot was on its way towards the goal when it was deflected, but that happens, that's part of football and you have to cope with these things when they go for you and when they go against."

Since Alonso has experienced considerably more of the latter than the former in a general footballing sense over the the past four months, there can be few more deserving matchwinners at a place like Stamford Bridge than him.

There will always be personal scores to settle for Alonso where Chelsea are concerned — Eidur Gudjohnsen's admission that he feined injury to get him suspended from the second leg of the clubs' Champions League semi final second leg in 2005, for instance.

But Alonso has had something more substantial to prove about himself since a summer in which, while the 26-year-old was busy contributing to Spain's European Championship success, Rafael Benitez was trying to sell him against his wishes to Juventus.

Alonso would have been on the way out had Juventus or Arsenal provided the £18m Benitez was looking for to finance Gareth Barry's purchase.

His renaissanc, when it really counted this season — he was also outstanding in the defining win against Manchester United — has not been lost on Steven Gerrard, a sensitive individual for whom a summer like Alonso's would have been personally unbearable.

"I must give a special mention for Alonso," Gerrard said recently.

"He had a very difficult time just before the transfer window shut, and didn't know if he was coming and going."

When you're looking for an idea of how much character an individual posesses there is no better reference point than Carragher.

His biography is a searing critique of the Benitez era and his judgment of Alonso within it a revealing one. Carragher brackets the central midfielder as one of those players who show "the hunger I relate to, embracing the culture and mentality of the supporters," his passing providing "the guile alongside Gerrard which we'd been lacking."

Though Liverpool's willingness to part company with the playmaker seemed to have affected his relationship with his compatriot Benitez irrevocably — Alonso recently told Gazzetta dello Sport that "for my part, the attraction (of Juventus) has remained intact" — playing a part in restoring the championship to Anfield after an 18-year wait would presumably change everything.

He was certainly rolling up his sleeves at the prospect yesterday.

"The three points against Chelsea are as important as the three points against Wigan and the three that are available against Portsmouth on Wednesday — they are all of the same value," he said.

"When everyone works really hard for one another you have a chance to beat anyone.

"It was really important to score first as well because it would have been very difficult to come back in a game like this one.

"Now we have to think about Wednesday and remain really calm.

"We are professionals and we are conscious that there is still a long way to go and we are steady and we are calm."

Statistics certainly bear him out on the last part.

Though Liverpool have never enjoyed a better start to a Premier League campaign, they are acquainted with being top at this time of a Premier League season — and watching everything fall apart thereafter.

Gerard Houllier's side led the rest of the pack for a month in October 2002 after Salif Diao's winner at Leeds (neither Carragher not Gerrard spared his sensitivities in their biographies), only to finish the season fifth and 19 points off the top having failed to win in 11 matches after November 9.

They were also top for a fortnight in September last year before imploding.

On neither of those two occasions had Liverpool enjoyed the immense psychological benefits of having beaten the two sides who, by a huge distance, are favourites to take the title.

Neither were their sides so settled. One of the many problems they have currently ironed out is that obstinate one of who to play down the left wing, with Albert Riera's display in that position at Stamford Bridge providing more evidence that he is the answer.

The Liverpool fans who chanted Alonso's name against Lazio pre-season, when it looked like he was leaving, will tell you that Liverpool wouldn't have Riera either had Alonso left and freed the cash for Barry instead.

Alonso is acutely aware of the lasting effects of beating both Manchester United and Chelsea, even though Liverpool's talisman Fernando Torres may be misssing against Portsmouth and at White Hart Lane next weekend.

"[Sunday] was very important for us because in the last few seasons in the league we have been [to Chelsea] and we haven't had the best results," he said.

For Benitez, the defensive effort — in particular Sami Hypia's — will have been the most comforting part of Chelsea's first defeat at home in the league since Arsenal beat them 2-1 in February 2004.

But don't be surprised if this proves Liverpool's weakness.

Andrea Dossena has looked out of his depth from the moment he strode onto a pitch at Liege in August and Alvaro Arbeloa is another Benitez full back who, like the victim of a random mugging, too often finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When he plays, 34-year-old Hypia lacks pace for those sides who will run at him.

But Benitez's immediate challenge is to keep a lid on expectations.

His side have a run of fixtures - Spurs, West Brom, Bolton, West Ham, Fulham and Blackburn — which should enable them to maintain their presence at the top of the table, though it risks confounding Benitez's attempts to be the ‘invisible' team who sneak through as contenders while no-one is looking.

"It must be one game at a time," said Alonso, the voice of experience Benitez so nearly didn't have to call on.

Hansen: Liverpool Have A Great Chance

Alan Hansen believes Rafael Benitez's Liverpool side now have their "best chance" of winning the league title for the first time since 1990.

The Reds ended Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten home record with a 1-0 success at Stamford Bridge yesterday to put them clear at the top of the Premier League and further boost belief they can finally mount a sustained title challenge.

And Hansen believes they have shown they are equipped to push favourites Manchester United and Chelsea all the way.

"I would like to congratulate Rafa Benitez and his team for pulling off an incredible result at Stamford Bridge," said Hansen.

"To beat a Chelsea side on their own patch where they've not lost in 86 League games is fantastic.

"It wasn't just the result but also the manner of the win which was so impressive.

"After just half an hour there was only going to be one winner as the Liverpool tactics were spot on and the team display was outstanding."

Hansen added: "After this great start to the season, this is the best chance Liverpool have had to win the title since they last won the trophy back in 1990 as they're looking very much a team.

"They've shown great resilience in some remarkable comebacks, the signing of Albert Riera has given them great width and players such as Dirk Kuyt have performed far better than they have played before.

"Rafa's team looks very solid and you get the feeling that when teams put pressure on them as Chelsea attempted to do, they're not going to fall apart.

"They may have dropped points at home to Stoke but winning the title is not all about thrashing teams every week but how teams respond to setbacks.

"That's the big test and from the Liverpool performances so far this season, the players have shown the kind of resilience that suggests they would bounce back from any poor result with great spirit," the former Liverpool captain continued.

"This was a momentous result but the victory over Manchester United at Anfield is the result that gave Liverpool the real belief they could beat the likes of Chelsea. If Rafa's team had lost that one, I don't think they would have truly felt they could win at Stamford Bridge.

"However, by finally beating United they have become a team in every sense of the word as confidence and belief is sky high to launch a far too long-awaited title challenge."

Match Report: Chelsea 0 - 1 LiverpooL

Xabi Alonso's first-half goal ended Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home league record and put Liverpool three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Alonso struck in the ninth minute when his 20-yard shot deflected off Jose Bosingwa and left Petr Cech wrong-footed.

It was Chelsea's first defeat under new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari but Liverpool were always in charge of a pulsating contest at Stamford Bridge and look real title contenders on this form.

Chelsea had not been beaten at home since Arsenal's 2-1 success in February 2004 but Liverpool deserved their triumph with an impressive display.

Chelsea began the brighter of the two sides and their initial thrusts almost resulted in an opening goal.

Nicolas Anelka dribbled his way into the penalty area in the third minute but was tackled before he could test Jose Reina.

The ball fell to Deco but the Chelsea midfielder's shot was deflected to safety.

Liverpool went ahead in the ninth minute with their first attack of the game.

Chelsea failed to deal with a thrown-in when John Terry could only half-clear Dirk Kuyt's clever back-header.

The ball fell to Alonso on the edge of the penalty area and his shot deflected off Chelsea right-back Bosingwa into the net.

Liverpool were now in commanding form and dominating the game.

In the 17th minute, Albert Riera beat Bosingwa on the left flank but fired his shot into the side netting.

Chelsea, hoping to stretch their unbeaten home league sequence to 87 games, struggled to get back into the game.

Bosingwa tried to run at the Liverpool defence in the 21st minute but was chopped down crudely by Riera who received a booking from referee Howard Webb as a result.

Seconds later Salomon Kalou headed just over the bar from another cross by Bosingwa.

Liverpool continued to look dangerous and in the 24th minute they almost increased their lead when Cech was forced to tip a glorious volley from Steven Gerrard over the bar.

Chelsea began to find some consistency as the first half wore on but they were struggling to produce a telling final ball into the penalty area.

Time and again their neat approach work was undone by a poor pass but Frank Lampard, so often their inspiration, won a corner in the 33rd minute with a deflected shot.

But although it came to nothing, Chelsea continued to enjoy their best spell of the game.

Bosingwa sent over a number of crosses from the right flank but Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher were inspired at the heart of the visitors' defence.

In the 36th minute Deco was given time and space to run at the Liverpool defence but his left-foot drive from 18 yards was wide of Jose Reina's right-hand upright.

In the 38th minute Gerrard looked to be heading for an early bath for a foul on Bosingwa.

However, referee Webb elected to show the England midfielder a yellow card for his challenge.

Liverpool's speed on the counter-attack almost opened up Chelsea again in the 43rd minute but, despite some confusion in the home defence, John Mikel Obi managed to clear their lines.

Chelsea began the second half in a much brighter fashion and it required an interception from Carragher to prevent a cross from Florent Malouda reaching its destination in the six-yard box.

In the 53rd minute Malouda was booked for checking a fine run by Alvaro Arbeloa.

Moments later Malouda was felled by Liverpool 'keeper Reina in the penalty area but he had already been ruled offside by referee Webb.

Cole was next into Webb's book when the official took a dislike to his challenge on Carragher.

In the 57th minute, Kuyt tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort was wide of the target.

It was the catalyst for a Chelsea to make a double substitution with Malouda and Kalou replaced by Juliano Belletti and Franco Di Santo.

It was another indication of Chelsea's growing frustration and it prompted Liverpool to replace Robbie Keane with Ryan Babel.

The Reds were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out in the 60th minute when Belletti kicked Riera in the face.

Chelsea then had a massive escape when Alonso's effort rebounded off the foot of the post for Ricardo Carvalho to clear.

Babel was brought down by Cole as he tried to collect the ball but referee Webb decided to book Javier Mascherano for attempting to persuade the official to dismiss the left-back.

Cole squandered a great chance to level the scores in the 73rd minute when Di Santo nodded Lampard's cross into his path.

But the defender screwed his effort wide of the post from eight yards. Moments later Carragher rescued Liverpool when he deflected Deco's effort for a corner.

At the opposite end, a 25-yard drive from Babel was only just wide of the target.

Benitez: We're Not A One-Man Team

Rafael Benitez believes yesterday's win over Chelsea showed that Liverpool - with or without Fernando Torres - have squad capable of winning titles.

Liverpool's record going into the clash at Stamford Bridge was not flattering, and few neutrals would have tipped them to break Chelsea's sequence of 86 games unbeaten at home.

But that is exactly what they did, thanks to a certain Spaniard, although it wasn't the one who usually does most of the damage where the score-sheet is concerned.

Xabi Alonso stepped in the 10th-minute to compensate for the absence of Fernando Torres, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained on international duty.

Most figured Liverpool would struggle while the 24-year-old known as 'El Nino' sat on the sidelines, but they are yet to suffer a defeat in any competition this season and have had no problems on the goalscoring front.

This is in stark contrast to last season, when 33-goal Torres was the indisputed focal point for the Reds up front. But the arrival of Robbie Keane, the returned form of Dirk Kuyt and the continued growth of Ryan Babel have given Rafael Benitez a number of high-class attacking options.

"Everybody was talking about how it would be difficult for us to come to Chelsea without Torres," Benitez told Liverpool's official website after the Chelsea win. "Fernando is a key player for us who can change a game and is always a threat for the defenders.

"But, if you work well as a team together you can manage like we showed today. If we have to play one or two more games without Fernando I think we have enough quality in the squad."

Benitez's recruitment policy has received mixed reviews. Although the jury is still out on Keane, the Reds' big-money signings in recent years have rarely gone wrong: Torres is a keeper at £21million, Javier Mascherano equally so at £18million.

It is the more thrifty signings which have often gone awry. Craig Bellamy, Mark Gonzalez and Andriy Voronin are just a few who have failed to make the grade at Anfield in the last few years.

People were expecting more of the same when Albert Riera joined from Espanyol in a £6million deadline-day deal. The one-time Manchester City flop has exceeded expectations, however, and has been one of the Reds' most consistent performers during the early part of the season.

"Every year we are trying to improve the squad," Benitez continued. "We have made mistakes signing players but we have also made some very good ones. When I talk about players I don't just mean quality because they need a very good mentality."

And that has been the key to Liverpool's table-topping form this term; they have unearthed the winning mentality that had been buried since the days of Kenny Dalglish, and for the first time in more than 15 years they look like title contenders.

Benitez believes the key lies in not only the spread of quality throughout the squad, but also the number driven, hard-working, uncompromising performers - players who refuse to accept defeat, in other words.

"Players like Agger, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Carragher, Reina, you can see the mentality they have and it inspires the rest of the players too," Benitez added.

"We have a good squad with good competition. Diego Cavalieri hasn't played much but he is pushing Pepe Reina, Dossena is pushing Fabio Aurelio which is really positive for us so the new players have a very good mentality. Lucas Leiva is working so hard in every training session and everybody has to be on their toes."

Liverpool will hope to continue their impressive run when they face Portsmouth during the week.

Liverpool Can Win Title This Season, Boasts Boss Rafa Bentiez

Rafa Benitez declared his side as genuine title contenders after they ended Chelsea's long unbeaten home league run.

Xabi Alonso's deflected 10th-minute strike gave Liverpool victory - and Chelsea did not have the guile or the firepower to add to the 86-game streak stretching back to February 2004.

The win moved Liverpool three points clear at the top and with a victory over Manchester United already secured, Benitez is predicting a serious title challenge. He said: "Everyone was talking before of our statistics against the top sides - we knew we needed to improve. We were coming here unbeaten, they were unbeaten here for a long time so it was a massive game.

"It was a big boost for the rest of the season. We have belief, we have quality, we showed coming from behind in the other games that we had character. This is enough for being contenders, this is enough for being at the top of the table now.

"After the game I said congratulations to the players. To win here was a really difficult thing to do and so to win here sends a massive message to the other teams of what we can do and tells our fans what we are about."

Chelsea have changed their style since the arrival of Luiz Felipe Scolari, but Liverpool were largely able to keep a lid on the Blues' attacking efforts, Ashley Cole skewing their best chance wide.

Scolari said: "We did not play as Chelsea usually play. They put eight players out to defend and there was no space to work the ball, only space to cross. We didn't win one cross.

"This is not the football that we play. We need to play and touch the ball as we do not have big strikers.

"Benitez is intelligent. He knows that we don't have a two-metre centre forward, so they gave us space. But when we crossed they have players who are very good at winning the ball.

"We were running out of time and the players did not have the confidence to pass the ball. I tried to tell them to play but they didn't listen.

"It's only the second time we've not scored a goal and I have the same confidence in my players.

"They need to understand that Liverpool's defenders were better than us, that's all. I will not change my idea because we failed to score."

Rafa Benitez's Valencia Model Points Liverpool Towards Premier League Title

While Harry Redknapp's arrival at Spurs created most of the headlines over the weekend, across London, Liverpool's win at Chelsea was of far greater significance.

Manager Rafa Benitez is building his side on the Valencia model which won two Liga titles in three seasons.

At Valencia, Benitez had an experienced central defender in Roberto Ayala, "one of the best in Europe at his peak". Liverpool have Jamie Carragher, a different kind of player, but "in terms of effectiveness there is nothing between them".

Looking further up front, Steven Gerrard plays the Pablo Aimar role, making goals and scoring them. "It's the same shape, a title winning shape."

But the real key to Liverpool's title challenge will be the holding pair in central midfield. Xabi Alonso and Mascherano's main job is to soldify the area in front of the back four, so that the full-backs can supply width.

Patrick says: "They are the Albelda and Baraja, the founding cornerstones of this team. And that's why I believe, right now, if you ask me who's going to win the championship, I'd say Liverpool are going to follow in Valencia's footsteps."

Chelsea's Luiz Felipe Scolari Says Players 'Didn't Listen' Against Liverpool

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was angry to see his players lose patience against Liverpool, and admits they "didn't listen" to his instructions.

After more than four years and 86 Premier League games, Chelsea were finally defeated at Stamford Bridge thanks to Xabi Alonso's early goal.

Against expectations, Chelsea were unable to mount a second-half fightback and failed to recreate the level of performance witnessed in their 5-0 win at Middlesbrough last weekend.

Rafa Benitez was widely accepted to have won his tactical battle with Scolari, and Liverpool now lead the Premier League by three points.

"I didn't want my players to play high balls. I don't need them to put the ball in the box all the time," said Scolari.

"But they lost the confidence to touch the ball and were afraid of not changing the result. This is not the football we play normally. We need to try to play on the ground, not high balls, because I don't have big strikers.

"I said to them 'Look, try to keep on playing' but they didn't listen."

Scolari hopes to have Joe Cole back for their trip to third-place Hull on Wednesday.

"We may have Joe Cole back, maybe," said Scolari. "But Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack need another 10 days minimum."

Scolari is determined the Liverpool shock will not affect the confidence of his players.

"We will have a meeting with the players and start to think about Hull on Wednesday. The Liverpool game is finished.

"We did not expect the result but we need to understand that Liverpool have a very good team.

"In the first half we dominated the game and in the second we had more possession of the ball and passed it well until we got near their penalty area.

"After this we crossed many balls but they had a good defensive line and dealt with every one. We didn't play as we have done in other games because we didn't have the space. We only had space to cross."

Jamie Carragher :Liverpool Wont Get Carried Away By Victory Against Chelsea

Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher has insisted that the race for the title is far from over and that they won’t let their scintillating win over Chelsea last night, go to their heads.

A 11th minute goal by Xabi Alonso was enough to ensure that the Reds emerged victorious at Stamford Bridge to reach the top of the Premier League table with a gap of three points against second placed Chelsea.

At the start of the season the club insisted that this could be the season where the Merseyside club could end their 18-year title drought and they definitely look to be working hard to achieve their target.

30- year old Carragher is as desperate as the rest of the squad to bring the title to Anfield, but insisted that they should focus on every match rather then long term planning.

Speaking to the clubs official website Carragher said, "Before today Chelsea were playing as well as anyone in Europe.

"To come here and win should give our confidence a boost but we realise there's a long way to go yet.

"Their record was never going to go on forever, they were always going to lose at some point, and I'm just glad it was us who managed to beat them.

"We are top of the table but as I said, there's a long way to go.

"Over recent years Chelsea and United have been towards the top while we and Arsenal were trying to get involved and challenge.

"Hopefully we can bridge the gap this season."

Rafael Benitez’s side have already beaten Manchester United at Anfield last month and would like to continue this form of theirs when they play against Arsenal in December.

Jamie Carragher: Liverpool Can Bridge Gap After Historic Victory

JAMIE CARRAGHER believes Liverpool have gained a psychological lift from their historic win at Chelsea.

A 10th-minute goal from Xabi Alonso ended the Londoners’ 86-game unbeaten home league record and put Rafael Benitez’s side three points clear at the top of the table.

Carragher was the outstanding performer as Liverpool comfortably withstood the Chelsea revival

And the centre-back said: “It puts us top of the league and should give us a confidence boost.

“There’s a long way to go but psychologically it should give us a big lift. Before today I’d probably say Chelsea were as good as anyone in Europe with the way they’ve been playing this season.”

Asked about the significance of breaking Chelsea’s four-year run, Carragher added: “It was a great record but obviously it couldn’t go on forever. They had to lose sometime and I’m just delighted it was us.

“We’re top of the league now, there’s a long way to go. Chelsea and Manchester United have been up there for the last four or five years but hopefully we can bridge that gap this season.”

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, beaten for the first time since taking charge in the summer, admitted his players had resorted to long-ball tactics in a bid to save their unbeaten home league record.

Liverpool became the first team to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the league since Arsenal’s 2-1 success in February 2004 and Scolari admitted his players had been left “very sad” by their defeat.

But the Brazilian coach was more concerned with the loss of three points than a long-standing record he had little to do with.

“We did not expect the result,” said Scolari. “But we need to understand that Liverpool have a very good team.

“They didn’t play better than us but they took their chance. In the first half we dominated the game and in the second we had more possession of the ball and passed it well until we got near their penalty area.

“After this we crossed many balls but they had a good defensive line and dealt with every one. We didn’t play as we have done in other games because we didn’t have the space.

“We only had space to cross. This is not the football we play normally. We need to try and play on the ground, not high balls, because I don’t have big strikers.

“But this is what happened today and they won. It is just three points. Now, they are three points in front of us, that’s it. I say sorry to the fans but we were not better than Liverpool today and they won.

“I saw my players try to do their best and I don’t ask for more than that. Tomorrow we will have a meeting with the players and we need to think about Hull on Wednesday. This game is finished.

“The players are sad, but it is normal. But it is only one game. I didn’t want my players to play high balls.

“I don’t need them to put the ball in the box all the time. But they lost the confidence to touch the ball and were afraid of not changing the result. I said to them ‘Look, try to keep on playing’ but they didn’t listen.”

Match Preview: Chelsea vs. LiverpooL

Chelsea host Liverpool in the undisputed blockbuster of this weekend’s Premier League match-ups. Only goal difference separates the two teams at the top of the table, as both sides remain unbeaten with six wins each from eight games. A victory either way could prove critical in the rival clubs’ title ambitions come May.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s arrival at Stamford Bridge during the summer was met with the instant expectation of a dramatic upswing in the quality of Chelsea’s football. The former Brazil boss was handed the daunting task of transforming the Blues from an ultra-effective yet extremely turgid outfit into the most attractive and marketable side in Europe, upon the order of Roman Abramovich, the club’s Russian billionaire owner.

Scolari has not disappointed. Chelsea aren’t just topping the table; they’re blowing teams away with the sort of style usually reserved for South America’s international superpowers. The summer recruitment of Deco, which garnered mixed reviews at the time, set the Londoners on the path to rediscovering the ‘sexy football’ popularised by Ruud Gullit during the 1990s. Even though the Portugal playmaker has spent several weeks on the sidelines through injury, his symbolic impact has arguably been as great as his stunning early-season displays. Flying full-back Jose Bosingwa, another Seleccao regular, also joined during the summer, significantly shifting the squad’s emphasis in the direction of flair rather than pragmatism.

Nevertheless, the new manager has stressed that results come first, even if that means momentarily halting the samba revolution to scrap out a Mourinhoesque 1-0 when required. Results over the last few seasons would suggest that Sunday’s game will see grinding, gritty performance from both sides. However, Liverpool’s recent form hints that a rare gem may in fact be on the cards.

Liverpool’s 3-2 win against Wigan Athletic last weekend was their fourth come-from-behind triumph in the Premier League this season. The Kop have been forced to endure a torrent of last-gasp winners as their side have been left in the lurch by indifferent first-half showings. And while the level of performance has been inconsistent, the accumulation of results sees Rafael Benitez’s men gaining momentum in the title race. The football may not always be as pretty as Chelsea’s, but the outcome has been the same, and the Merseysiders’ seem to have recaptured that ominous win-at-all-costs mentality that served them so well in the past.

Perhaps the greatest criticism of Liverpool’s league efforts under Benitez has centred on their inability to hold their own against the rest of the ‘Big Four’. Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all dominated the Reds in domestic proceedings over the past four years - but again, a crucial shift in the collective psyche at Anfield is taking place. Last month’s victory in the North West derby - Liverpool’s first in league play since 2004 - served as a statement of intent; a win at the Bridge would catapult the five-time European champs into genuine title-contention for the first time in well over a decade.

They face an uphill task, to say the least. No English club has beaten Chelsea on their own turf since March 2004 - 86 games and counting without suffering a home defeat. Hence, a Liverpool win on Sunday would send shockwaves across the country and force the football-following public to acknowledge the reawakening of a sleeping giant.


FORM GUIDE

Both clubs played in the Champions League during the week, with Chelsea securing a 1-0 win over Roma while Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw in a controversial yet uninspiring encounter with Atletico Madrid. Both sides triumphed in the previous round of the Premier League: the Blues thumped Middlesbrough 5-0; the Reds, as previously mentioned, battled to victory against Wigan.

Chelsea

Oct 22 vs. Roma (H) 1-0 WIN
Oct 18 vs. Middlesbrough (A) 5-0 WIN
Oct 5 vs. Aston Villa (H) 2-0 WIN
Oct 1 vs. CFR Cluj (A) 0-0 DRAW
Sep 27 vs. Stoke City (A) 2-0 WIN

Liverpool

Oct 22 vs. Atletico Madrid (A) 1-1 DRAW
Oct 18 vs. Wigan Athletic (H) 3-2 WIN
Oct 5 vs. Manchester City (A) 3-2 WIN
Oct 1 vs. PSV Eindhoven (H) 3-1 WIN
Sep 21 vs. Everton (A) 2-0 WIN


TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

The Blues’ form is all the more impressive when one considers their lengthy list of absentees. Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba are all out, while England duo Joe Cole and Ashley Cole are also battling injury. On the plus side, Deco is set to make his first league start since mid-September, while key defender Ricardo Carvalho should line up alongside the also fit-again John Terry. Juliano Belletti is an outside chance to start in midfield after his impressive display against Middlesbrough last weekend.

Possible XI (4-3-3): Cech – Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, Bridge – Mikel, Lampard, Deco – Kalou, Anelka, Malouda.

Liverpool

The major absence for the Reds is, of course, Fernando Torres. The Spain striker suffered a hamstring tear while on World Cup duty and will remain on the sidelines this weekend. He is not Rafa Benitez’s only concern, though. Robbie Keane hobbled off the Vicente Calderon pitch on Wednesday with a groin complaint and will be subjected to a late fitness test. Expect Dirk Kuyt, who netted twice against Wigan, to reclaim a starting spot. Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso were also substituted against Atleti, but they are both expected to feature on Sunday.

Possible XI (4-2-3-1): Reina – Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena – Mascherano, Alonso – Babel, Gerrard, Riera – Kuyt.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea

It’s hard to choose a stand-out from Stamford Bridge at the moment, but keep an eye on the diminutive Deco. The Brazilian-Portuguese star was majestic during his early outings before injury struck him down. It might be harsh to pin Chelsea’s hopes on his shoulders given he has just returned to action, but there is no doubting that the former Barcelona man is a born match-winner. On the flipside, an anonymous performance from Deco could be equally telling.

Liverpool

Xabi Alonso has re-established himself as an indispensable member of Liverpool’s midfield after coming so close to leaving the club during the summer. The Basque playmaker is the sort of footballer who can take charge of a game without seeming to do anything too spectacular, and his ability to control the tempo and spread the play will be vital if the Reds wish to claim three points on Sunday. All that depends on whether or not he plays, of course; we cannot discount the possibility that he will be ‘rested’ despite an excellent showing against Atletico in midweek.

Sun Shines On Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez Ahead Of Chelsea Clash

The autumn sun caressed Liverpool's training ground on Friday, but other factors must have conspired in the good humour of Rafa Benitez.

It was, you appreciated on reflection, a good time to be Liverpool manager. True, Benitez had just heard Fernando Torres confirm unavailability through injury for the match at Chelsea, but the team are unbeaten in the Premier League with confidence buttressed for the trip to London by the knowledge that they have beaten Manchester United at Anfield.

Even the credit crunch may be working for Liverpool, because speculation that Tom Hicks and George Gillett will be forced to sell the club is increasingly plausible and, should the crown prince of Dubai prove the buyer, Benitez would have the stability he craves, probably with a new contract as endorsement.

So come, friendly crunch? There being no Betjeman among the ranks of Liverpool's support, perhaps Roger McGough could pen a poem of hope that the Americans will settle their debts and go back across the Atlantic to a less complicated sporting environment.

Benitez again declined to discuss his wishes in detail, smiling when someone pointed out that he had left Valencia for Liverpool in 2004 because the Spanish club waited until he had won the Uefa Cup before renewing his contract - "I understand your question'' - but leaving it there.

Of the takeover reports concerning Sheikh Mohammed, he said: "When things are just rumours, we have to concentrate on football. Then it's easier for the players to focus.'' But stability, he added, was "a good thing for any club''. Especially one obliged to challenge Chelsea without it.

Will we ever (I wonder) again be able to look at a Premier League football match plain and simple? Today's event at Stamford Bridge certainly deserves it, for Liverpool have not even scored there on Premier business in nearly five years since Bruno Cheyrou secured victory on their final visit under Gerard Houllier, and yet a surprising number of people think this might be the day when Chelsea's unbeaten run in the League finally comes to an end after 86 matches.

I wonder if it might be just a shade early in the season. While both clubs are unbeaten thus far, Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea have been closer to peak form than Benitez's side, whose most impressive results have featured recoveries to beat Wigan and Manchester City. A draw would surely delight Liverpool. They may not have been champions for a while, but they do know the difference between a marathon and a sprint.

Their supporters, led by Steven Gerrard, have been waiting since 1990 to celebrate a domestic title but at least they have a manager who knows how; Benitez guided Valencia to two Spanish championships.

He can see steady progress, moreover, towards the required standard. Mention of Pepe Reina's development into one of the country's top goalkeepers got me thinking about how the current Liverpool might measure up to the Valencia of Benitez, who had the bleached but excellent Santiago Canizares in goal, Roberto Ayala shoring up the defence much as Jamie Carragher does (perhaps with less fuss, but the comparison holds), a solid central midfield pairing in Ruben Baraja and David Albelda (Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano) and Pablo Aimar off the front (where Gerrard likes to wreak his own havoc).

Although I found this mental doodling fun, Benitez was less interested in individuals than the character of his teams.

"I was at Valencia for three years,'' he said (they won the title in 2002 and 2004). "The first year was good, but the third year was fantastic. We were very, very solid, attacking and defending very well. It was a team with a fantastic balance and that was the key.

"Everyone had absolute confidence in everyone else. Every year, I think, this team at Liverpool gets closer to that. We have plenty of room for improvement - but every year it gets better.''

And confidence had been so high since the quashing of Manchester United that he would hardly need to mention that mid-September feat during the build-up to Sunday's game.

"For us,'' said Benitez, "beating United was really important because last season we were not winning these big games and everyone was saying 'OK, you can be close - but against the top sides you can't quite do it'. So this was a positive message to the team. And now we'll see what happens at Chelsea.''

Did he miss the mind-games with Jose Mourinho? "No.'' He preferred to exchange football thoughts with Scolari.”That's the way to do things.''

Meanwhile, down in Surrey, there was reciprocal respect, Scolari acknowledging the threat to his ambitions posed by Benitez's team.

"I believe they are thinking more about the Premier League than previously,'' the Chelsea manager declared. "Many times in the past, I have heard and read that Liverpool are concentrating on the Champions League. But maybe now they have a more balanced squad, one in which Benitez has more confidence. Maybe they have grown up.''

Asked if he would, like Benitez, be granted four years at his club without a domestic title (in fairness to Benitez, he has guided Liverpool to two Champions League finals, one of which was won), Scolari replied that he had only two years on his contract. "I have two years to win this competition - this year and next.''

Stability, I suppose, is in the eye of the beholder, but, for the moment, Scolari and Roman Abramovich seem to be getting along just fine. It is Benitez's mission to sow a seed of doubt.

Riera Ready For Second Chance

Albert Riera is determined to prove himself in the Premier League at the second time of asking.

The Spanish winger made little impression in England during a loan spell at Manchester City in 2006, but rediscovered his form on returning to his homeland with Espanyol.

International honours and a deadline day move to Liverpool duly followed, with Riera adamant he is a more mature player than the one which failed to ignite at Eastlands.

An impressive start to life on Merseyside bodes well for the future, although the 26-year-old is well aware of the many challenges which lie ahead.

"What I have learned in recent years is that any footballer can succeed in the Premier League if he has talent and he is also prepared to back that up with hard work, effort and discipline. That is the secret to foreigners succeeding here, and this time I came with no illusions," Riera said.

"When I was younger, I just thought I could walk on to the field and play. You can't. Look at how hard Fernando Torres works at Liverpool. He wouldn't have had to do that in Spain. It's incredible.

"I am a more technical player now and also more mature. My pride won't let me fail this time."

Riera has joined a burgeoning contingent of Spaniards at Anfield but insists that manager Rafa Benitez shows no favouritism towards his countrymen.

"I am at Liverpool because of a personal request from Rafa Benitez," he added.

"He is key for me, but for Rafa there is no difference between Spanish, English or other players.

"Some people believe it is an advantage to be Spanish if you play for Liverpool. That is not true. All Rafa asks is that we all work and behave the same.

"Look at Torres. He is one of the best strikers in the world. I have suffered from his goals in the Spanish league and I am happy that for once he is on my side! But he works as hard as anybody else."

Liverpool Want Title - Scolari

Luiz Felipe Scolari is not surprised by Liverpool's unbeaten start because he believes winning the Premier League is their top priority.

His Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez is now in his fifth season as Anfield manager but despite winning the Champions League during his tenure, the Reds have still not put the league trophy in the cabinet since 1990.

But Scolari, whose side face Liverpool in a top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday lunch time, believes that ending the famine is now the top target for Benitez.

"Liverpool are thinking more about the Premier League more than at any other time," said Scolari.

"I read many times that Liverpool think more about Champions League than Premier League. I don't think that is the case now. They are thinking about winning the Premier League.

"This season, they play more and think more about Premier League than in the other seasons.

"They have a balance and a good squad. They have more confidence and they have improved. The league is more difficult than maybe some of the other competitions. There is no game in the league that you will think you will win easy. It is a difficult league."

Benitez remains in charge at Anfield despite the lack of a league title but, given Chelsea's propensity for changing their managers, it is unlikely that Scolari will be given the same amount of time to win it.

Scolari has a two-year contract with the Blues but insists that there is nothing in writing that says he must win any of the four major competitions they chase every year.

When asked whether he would be handed another deal if he fails to win the league during the term of his contract, Scolari replied: "I don't know, I have a contract for two years only. Maybe I stay here for three, four or five years.

"Maybe they give me another two years in the future. I have two years to win competitions. I expect to win competitions.

"When I arrived here in Chelsea I said we need to play game by game to win. I don't know which competition we will reach the final of but we need to try and reach them all.

"It is possible to go through the season without losing. There are four competitions and we have four chances of winning something.

"If Chelsea win the league I would be happy for sure but I would be happy if we won the Carling Cup.

"I am not only thinking about the Premier League. Chelsea need to win a competition.

"We are in a good situation in the Champions League and the Carling Cup. We are also in a good position in the Premier League but there is a long way to go."

Absence Of Torres Hampers Benitez's Goal At The Bridge

When the crunch comes for Chelsea against Liverpool, it is usually the European Cup at stake. For four successive seasons the clubs have come together in the Champions' League, usually at a crucial stage. Last spring was the first time Chelsea had had the better of those matches, which meant that Jose Mourinho, who had departed by then, never did.

In the Premier League, it has been a different story, Rafael Benitez having recorded a single victory in eight meetings, by 2-0 at Anfield two seasons ago, when the visitors, short of defenders (in every sense), were demolished by Peter Crouch. At Stamford Bridge, where they return this afternoon, Liverpool have never even managed a goal in the League during Benitez's time. Today they are second among equals, though only on goal difference, having matched Chelsea's start to the campaign point for point and suggesting that at last there may be a real title challenge within them.

Not that the manager dares say as much at this early stage, even if he is prepared to acknowledge the improvement suggested by inflicting a League defeat at last on Manchester United a month ago. Anfield celebrated that day as if the championship itself had been won for the first time since 1990. If it is to be, then Liverpool's record against the other members of the big four has to improve drastically.

"Too early to talk about the title," was Benitez's mantra when discussing the match on Friday. He did admit, however, that points won and lost in these critical meetings of the leading clubs – if Hull City will excuse the shorthand – can be decisive. So beating United in only the fourth game of the season had mathematical as well as psychological value. "It was really important for us, because last season we were not winning these games so to beat United was a very, very positive message for the team," he said. "Now we will see what happens against Chelsea, but at least the team can approach these games with confidence."

They would be heading south even more confidently if Fernando Torres, scorer of 33 goals in his first season of English football, was a playing member of the party. His absence, and the knowledge that injury could also keep Robbie Keane out, must increase the possibility of one of the low-scoring, frequently dull encounters that the two teams tend to play at the Bridge, in contrast to Anfield, where the Kop rarely need to chant "Attack, attack, attack". Whether Keane or Dirk Kuyt (the more prolific scorer of the two at present) is the central striker, Steven Gerrard is likely to be behind him, as Benitez seeks the security of having both Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso holding in midfield in his favored 4-2-3-1 formation.

Hugely frustrated as Liverpool are by Torres's injury, sustained on international duty, they must acknowledge that Chelsea's list of absentees is the more debilitating. Joe Cole, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba would be a fair old outfield quartet in a five-a-side team, yet none can turn out today.

At least Ricardo Carvalho is back alongside John Terry in central defence. It is not quite correct to describe the Portuguese as Chelsea's unsung hero, since the supporters regularly put his name to song in appreciation of his formidable qualities as a tackler and marker. As one of Portugal's stalwarts, Carvalho also came to appreciate the worth of Luiz Felipe Scolari some time before his current club-mates. "He's a strong man, tough, a fantastic coach and he likes to play to win," he said after the 1-0 victory over Roma in midweek. "He's still learning about the Premier League, a different competition for him. He likes to have the ball and pass the ball, and to be a little bit more adventurous.

"As a player you have to find the moment when to go, when to play," added Carvalho. "He likes to work the ball and every day he thinks about this, to get possession and get the moment to be dangerous."

Someone less loyal to Mourinho, who brought Carvalho to England with him from Porto, might have emphasized the more positive approach with which the Brazilian is delighting everyone at Stamford Bridge, including, most importantly, Roman Abramovich. Jose Bosingwa, another Portuguese, and Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge on the left, have gained most from it in their freedom to attack down the flanks almost as wing-backs, contributing to the 19 Chelsea goals in eight League games.

Yet they have conceded only three. Those traveling to London today with hope in their heart would be more optimistic of turning the statistics round if only they had Torres on the pitch.

Liverpool Join Busquets Race

The autumn sun caressed Liverpool's training ground on Friday, but other factors must have conspired in the good humour of Rafa Benitez. Liverpool have joined the rapidly growing list of clubs interested in signing Sergio Busquets, with Barca's latest prodigy attracting unprecedented levels of interest.

Following on from the news that Arsenal and Juventus are seriously considering making an approach for Sergio Busquets, it has emerged that Liverpool are the latest club in awe of the midfielder.

The young midfielder has only played six league games at senior level, but already it appears as though all of Europe is after him. Off contract at the end of the season, clubs will soon be able to negotiate with Busquets, and it seems that money is no barrier. Liverpool and Milan are both reportedly ready to offer the youngster double what he is currently on, an enticing prospect for even the most loyal of players.

All of this could be prevented, of course, if Busquets accepts Barca's impending new contract offer. However, early talks between Txiki Begiristain and Josep Maria Orobitg, Busquet's representative, have hit a stumbling block over the financial issue. The midfielder has re-iterated his loyalty to Barca, however, which should provide a strong basis for further negotiations.

Given Busquet's famous heritage (his father Carles played 79 games for Barca), the club will be loathe to lose him on a free transfer at the end of the season, a realistic prospect if contract talks do not advance soon.

Reds Stars To Follow Rafa?

Liverpool's star recruits could leave the club if manager Rafael Benitez does not secure an improved contract, according to the News of the World.

Speculation has arisen in recent weeks concering Benitez's situation at Anfield. He was promised a new deal earlier this year, but the club's American owners are yet to follow up on that proposal.

The word around Merseyside is that the Spaniard's patience is beginning to wear thin, as he is uncertain of whether or not he has the full backing of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The more time passes without a contract on the table, the more likely it will become that Benitez will take matters into his own hands and leave Liverpool.

The former Valencia boss has no dearth of suitors; Juventus have supposedly highlighted him as their top target to replace the under-fire Claudio Ranieri, while Real Madrid have regularly been linked with the 48-year-old over the past two seasons.

And his departure, if and when it comes, could well see a host of first-teamers quit the Kop in protest and follow their wronged manager wherever he may roam.

Fernando Torres is the most significant name mentioned among the potential leavers. The 24-year-old has been a Liverpool fan since his days at Atletico Madrid, but he is one of those expected to support Benitez if push comes to shove.

Pepe Reina, Javier Mascherano, Martin Skrtel, Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera also thought to be among Rafa's loyalists. Such big-name departures would crippled the Reds, especially as they have just begun to make headway in the Premier League.

Benitez currently earns £3.5million per year, just over half what his counterpart this afternoon, Chelsea's Luiz Felipe Scolari, is paid.

Javier Mascherano: England Must Build Team Around Steven Gerrard

Javier Mascherano last night gave Frank Lampard a massive thumbs-down by telling Fabio Capello to build his England team around Steven Gerrard.

The £18million Argentinian is convinced if England are to be a success on the world stage Capello should shape the future around Gerrard - and NOT Lampard.

Enforcer Mascherano's stance is sure to add spice to today's massive Stamford Bridge clash between the England duo as Premier League table-toppers Chelsea and Liverpool collide.

In recent seasons Liverpool's title dreams have been over by this stage with Chelsea and Manchester United showing a ruthless streak from the off.

This time, though, Rafa Benitez has guided Liverpool into a strong position and having beaten United at Anfield, a win at Chelsea would give them their first proper title shout in a staggering 18 years.

And Mascherano has no doubts Gerrard is the man who can lead Liverpool and England to glory.

"If you have a player like Gerrard then you need to make a team around him," he said.

"I can't see Lampard in every training session but from what I see and know about Gerrard I think he is the best. He's the most complete player in England.

"He can play in front, wide, in the middle and can defend. And he can score big goals. He can do a lot of functions for the team.

"Stevie gives a lot of options to the manager and that is why he is the best - he is the most complete player.

"Steve is also a real leader in the dressing room and on the pitch."

For all Mascherano's confidence in Gerrard, the tough Argentinian knows this is crunch time for a Liverpool side desperate to join the elite band of Premier League winners - and they want revenge over Chelsea for last season's Champions League semi-final knock-out.

"Everyone wants to play this game because we all know it will be a very good test for us - that is why we have been waiting for this game ever since we played United.

"We were very disappointed because that defeat at Chelsea meant we could not play the final against United in Moscow. Beating Manchester United was good for us. It gave us a lot of confidence.

"Then we had the Everton game and if we hadn't have won that everyone would have forgotten the United game. Now if we beat Chelsea maybe people will look at us in a different way."

Defensive rock Jamie Carragher agrees but he believes Chelsea are the best team in Europe - and comeback specialists Liverpool can't afford to let Luiz Felipe Scolari's men get in front today.

"That has always been a stand-out quality of United teams in the Nineties and you have to respect them for that and a fighting quality is something you need," said Carragher.

"But against a team like Chelsea you don't want to fall behind. They are on fire and look the best team in England.

"The football they are playing is as good as any in Europe but it is credit to us we are level on points with them.

"Getting a result there will give us more belief we can win the title but there is still a long way to go and United and Chelsea are still big favourites to win it."

Keane Could Miss Chlesea Match

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has confirmed that both Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso have won their respective fitness race in time for the top-of-the-table clash against Chelsea on Sunday, but expressed uncertainty about the status of Robbie Keane.

"Xabi and Steven both trained today and should be okay," he said on Friday. "It wasn't a hard session but I am confident they can play at Chelsea.

"We're still not sure about Robbie. He didn't train today and we will have to see how he is tomorrow. We will make a late decision."

The loss of Keane would be particularly be a big blow as the Reds will definitely be making the trip to Stamford Bridge without star striker Fernando Torres, as confirmed by Benitez.

"Fernando won't be involved. He is recovering well and should be fit again soon, but we have to be careful with the player," he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge for the big one on Sunday buoyed by yet another comeback win last weekend, but also conscious of their poor record away to their tittle rivals under Benitez.

Rafa Benitez Insists: Liverpool Can Cope Without Fernando Torres

RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Liverpool have the squad to cope without Fernando Torres and banish their Stamford Bridge hoodoo tomorrow.

The only two remaining unbeaten records in the Premier League go on the line as leaders Chelsea entertain the Spaniard’s second-placed side.

Benitez is confident Robbie Keane will overcome a minor groin strain to lead an attack that will be missing Torres, who is again sidelined with a groin problem.

Liverpool have not won in 10 games at Stamford Bridge under Benitez and have gained only one victory in their last 24 visits, a sequence stretching back to 1990.

But with Keane finding the net against Atletico Madrid in midweek and Dirk Kuyt having scored four times in his last three starts, Benitez reckons his team have the firepower to end Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten home run.

“I think we can beat them without Torres,” said the Liverpool manager. “We have been playing well and we have enough quality in the squad.

“I think it will be important for the squad to show that the team can do things without Torres. We showed this against United and that was very positive. If we want to be contenders it depends on the whole squad and not just one player.

“Keane is scoring now in the Champions League now so hopefully he can start in the Premier League. Kuyt has already started, and that is a positive. We know Torres is a key player for us, but we have enough quality in the squad.”

Liverpool beat Manchester United last month with Torres on the bench, and Benitez added: “We have new players with a good mentality and we have a lot of confidence. I think we have enough to beat a very good team like Chelsea.

“We have the confidence for beating anyone. “We will go to Stamford Bridge and try and win, but if we cannot we must not lose.

“It will be a good problem for me if I have to try and play down expectations.

“If you want to have a chance at the end you have to beat the top sides,” said.

“To beat the other teams is important as you get the points, but the games against the top sides can make the difference.

“The difference at the top can be just one point, so it’s important to beat these teams.”

If Liverpool avoid defeat tomorrow, they will have achieved their best start to a Premier League campaign.

Benitez has admired the impact Luiz Felipe Scolari has made since arriving at Chelsea but refused to be drawn into criticising former sparring partner Jose Mourinho.

“Scolari is improving the squad and team,” said the Liverpool manager.

“It is more or less the same idea but they are more offensive than before.

“I think they are a good team. I don’t want say they are better (than under Mourinho) because I don’t want to start a war of words, but they are more offensive, that is clear.

“Always you want to win against your rivals, our record is something we can change on Sunday.

“You have to leave the fans to enjoy the situation. But the responsibility is to keep things realistic and to make sure the fans are aware it will be difficult to win the title as there are a lot of good teams in England, particularly the top three.”

Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio could return to the starting line-up at the expense of Yossi Benayoun and Andrea Dossena.

George Gillett Promises Rafa Benitez New Contract

Benitez remains confident his contract situation will be resolved after receiving backing from George Gillett this week.

The American attended the midweek Champions League game at Atletico Madrid and, although Benitez did not meet the co-owner, he revealed contact was indirectly made.

“I have had some contact and some messages, saying congratulations, you are doing a fantastic job,” said the Spaniard.

“I am thinking about games and do my job as well as I can. But I think the contract will get sorted, yes."

Chelsea Won't Intimidate Liverpool

Liverpool forward Robbie Keane has warned Chelsea that the Reds will not be intimidated by the home side's record at Stamford Bridge.

Sunday's top of the table showdown at Stamford Bridge is arguably the fixture of the weekend as Liverpool look to spoil Chelsea's home record, and summer signing Robbie Keane has said that his side will not be intimidated by their opponents.

"We know it won’t be easy and Chelsea have made a good start, but that doesn’t mean we will be intimidated by them," Keane told the club's official website.

"It will be tough on Sunday, because they are doing 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 have to be confident we can go there and get a result," he concluded.

Rafa Looks To Take It To The Bridge

Rafael Benitez admires the attacking style that Luiz Felipe Scolari has introduced at Chelsea but still believes Liverpool can win in London.

The Anfield boss will be trying to mastermind the end of Chelsea's four-year, 86-game unbeaten home league record when the Premier League's top two clash at Stamford Bridge.

But Liverpool will have to do it without Fernando Torres, who has failed to recover from a hamstring injury.

Benitez said: "Robbie Keane has a groin strain, we are not sure about him yet, but we will have to wait until nearer the match before we decide.

"(Steven) Gerrard and (Xabi) Alonso will be fit, but Torres will not be available. He may be ready for next week, but for now there is no chance.

"We do not have Torres, but I believe we have the fire-power to beat Chelsea. We have been playing well and have good confidence.

"We have enough quality in the squad. We may have been more worried without Torres in the past, but we have improved, we have new players with a very good mentality.

"We have enough to beat a very good team, and that is what Chelsea are. It is too early to talk of titles, but we have the confidence to beat anyone.

"So we will go to Stamford Bridge and try to do our best. If we win it will be perfect and if we do not lose that too will be positive."

Benitez goes to Stamford Bridge without the added pressures caused by the now infamous war of words with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho that marred previous encounters.

The Portuguese coach dominated Benitez in league matches, while Liverpool achieved notable victories in the FA Cup and Champions League.

Now, it seems, Benitez senses a more cordial welcome.

He would not go as far as to say Chelsea were better under Scolari, but he got very close.

"With Avram Grant the team was at the same level as with Mourinho, but maybe more offensive," Benitez said.

"And that is now the same with Scolari. He is improving the team and the squad, so it will be just as difficult. But we are playing against the team, not the manager.

"But maybe Chelsea are now more offensive. That just makes it more difficult because they have such good players.

"Chelsea are a very good team. I would not want to say better than under Mourinho because I do not want to start any war of words, but it is clear that they are more offensive.

"They have a more offensive mentality, a very good team with a good attacking policy.

"This game may be more open than previous ones between the clubs. Clearly they have a stronger attacking mentality. They will go forward, they score goals, and we will have a much more attacking match.

"They have quality all around. They have full-backs who go forward, good wide men and attacking players, they are a very good side. They do not have too many weaknesses, but if we can win it will be a real boost."

Rafael Benitez Cool On Premier League Title Talk Ahead Of Chelsea Clash

If Rafael Benitez wanted to play down his side’s chances of winning the championship, he should have picked somewhere other than Liverpool to manage.

This is a city where talk of a title has become almost a lost language and where any hint that Liverpool might regain a championship that a generation ago belonged to Merseyside almost by right is seized upon and pored over.

Last season, in a cry of despair and frustration, Steven Gerrard said he was sick of making optimistic predictions about Liverpool’s Premier League ambitions, only to see them ground into the dust by October. Well, October is here and Liverpool are matching Chelsea punch for punch.

After eight games they are two points better off than they were in the 1989-90 campaign, which finished with Anfield’s 18th and last title, although to listen to the Liverpool manager, you would hardly think so.

“It is clear that you have to allow the fans to enjoy the situation,” Benitez said. “But you have a responsibility to be realistic. In football it is better not to be talked about.”

That extends to speaking about Jose Mourinho, who began the season by predicting in his Daily Telegraph column that Liverpool would win the championship and that after five years at Anfield there was no excuse for Benitez not to. Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson might make up but not these two.

The Manchester United manager thought tomorrow’s contest in London would not be decisive. Ferguson argued that Liverpool lacked the firepower for anything more than a goalless draw. Arsenal, he said, had a far greater chance of breaking Chelsea’s stranglehold at Stamford Bridge.

Nevertheless, it seems almost perverse that on a day Benitez was making his final preparations for a game that could have a critical bearing on their title ambitions, a group of Merseyside MPs were tabling a motion urging the Government to put pressure on the Royal Bank of Scotland not to extend the repayments for a £350 million loan to the club’s owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which could only damage Liverpool in the short term.

Gillett had been at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday night to see Liverpool toss away a dominant position against Atletico Madrid, but any conversation with Benitez was second hand – relayed through the chief executive, Rick Parry. When asked if he had received any communication about a new contract – his present deal expires in 18 months – Benitez simply shook his head and smiled.

When Benitez last won a championship, with Valencia in 2004, it was by coming from behind. The focus was all on Real Madrid in the season when their love affair with the galacticos was at its most intense. The Real manager, Carlos Queiroz, had plenty of stars but a pitifully thin squad and, game by game, the Valencia machine wore him down.

“Generally, we were eight points behind Real Madrid and we finished eight points clear, so we were never really talked about until about April,” Benitez said. “It is easier that way because people can talk too much.”

To become the first team to win at Stamford Bridge in four years would create plenty of talk and be a dramatic statement of intent, especially if it was achieved without Fernando Torres, the kind of striker Luiz Filipe Scolari simply does not possess in the home dressing-room. Nevertheless, Gerrard and Robbie Keane should both be fit while Dirk Kuyt, who until the 3-2 victory at Manchester City had not managed a league goal in 11 months, has stepped up to fill the void left by Torres.

Last month’s victory over United was a significant turning point in that it showed Liverpool could overcome their great weakness under Benitez – an inability to beat the top sides in the Premier League, which amounted almost to an inferiority complex. Had their results against Chelsea been reversed, Liverpool would have won the title in 2006.

And something else has changed. The wild rotation that confused everyone at Anfield from the stands to the dressing-room has ceased. A website called fantasyrafa.com asks you to predict Benitez’s starting line-ups. Until recently the odds on winning were of National Lottery proportions. But as Benitez says: “Chelsea have used 24 players and we have used 22.” Fantasy Rafa has become a whole lot easier.

Robbie Keane Aims To Make An Impact

ROBBIE KEANE knows a thing or two about ruining Chelsea’s hopes of winning some silverware.

Twice already this year, the Republic of Ireland international has played a significant role in ensuring the efforts of the Stamford Bridge outfit went without any tangible reward.

Keane was part of the Tottenham Hotspur side that surprised their London rivals with a 2-1 victory in the Carling Cup final at Wembley in March.

Then, barely four weeks later, the striker was on hand to net a late equaliser in a remarkable 4-4 draw that went a long way to ensuring Chelsea’s championship chase of Manchester United ultimately fell short.

Keane will be looking to lodge another sizeable spanner in the works when he returns to the capital tomorrow afternoon.

But this time the Liverpool forward hopes victory will be of title-winning benefit to his own team as Rafael Benitez’s side aim to extend their unbeaten start to the season and claim only a second league win at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era.

“My last game against Chelsea was the 4-4 draw,” says Keane. “Goals galore, it was phenomenal. It was attack versus attack and a great game to be involved in. I am sure it will go down in history as one of the great games in the Premier League.

“It was just great entertainment, great excitement. It was a bit like a schoolboy game in some ways because it just seemed like both teams were just attacking all the time. Probably wasn’t the best for defending, but for the neutrals it was a good game.

“I remember there was a long ball played forward and it came off someone’s back and luckily enough I was there. I connected with it and it went in the top corner.

“I think there were two minutes left. We could have actually nicked at right at the end – Berbatov had a chance with the last kick.

“Obviously it was a game Chelsea needed to win at the time and the result was a disappointment for them.

“It will be tough on Sunday. They are doing well and haven’t been beaten for so long at home, but the way I look it at records are there to be broken.

“We are doing well too. We have to confident we can go there and get a result.”

Keane is confident of recovering from the minor groin niggle that forced him off shortly after half-time of Liverpool’s 1-1 Champions League draw at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

The striker had given the visitors an early lead with his only second goal since a near £20million move from White Hart Lane in July.

Keane is still waiting to open his domestic account, and he says: “You don’t just settle into a club straight away. Sometimes it can take a bit of time to settle down. But I feel part of things here, I am happy and I just want to help us be successful.

“I tweaked my groin a bit in the first 20 minutes, but it was more of a precaution than anything else. Hopefully I will be okay.”

With Fernando Torres injured, Keane will be asked to lead the line as Liverpool attempt to end the most formidable home record in English football history.

Chelsea have not lost in their last 86 games at Stamford Bridge, a record that extends back to February 2004.

And Keane admits: “You know that there are no easy games in this league but this one is probably as tough as they come when you look at their home record over the last few seasons.

“We’ve just had a decent result away from home in the Champions League and we’ve got a couple of days in between to rest and train so we should go there in decent shape.

“Chelsea is a massive, massive game for us and Liverpool have done okay against them in the last couple of years so I’m sure we will go there believing that we can get a good result.

“Everyone knows that Chelsea haven’t been beaten at home for so long but records are there to be broken and our job is to make sure we give ourselves the best possible chance of doing just that.

“We know it won’t be easy and Chelsea have made a good start to the season themselves but that doesn’t mean we will be intimidated by them or anything like that.

“I think you have to be confident that you can go there and win because you can’t be going into games not confident or not believing that you can get a good result.

“Chelsea’s record is great, they have a great squad of players and we definitely respect that but if you are not confident going into a game like this one you’ve got no chance.”

Of Liverpool’s six Premier League wins, four have come after having fallen behind but Keane accepts Benitez’s side cannot afford to be so charitable tomorrow.

“We’ve certainly made hard work of our last couple of games and we definitely can’t keep doing that,” he says. “Last weekend we managed to get another good win after going behind.

“When you’re playing at home you expect to take the initiative and to take the game to them but you have to give Wigan credit because they played well and made things hard for us.

“But we ended up getting the win and we can take a lot of heart from that because it shows how much character there is in the side and how much we want to win games.

“But the more often you do that the more chance there is that you will come unstuck because games won’t always go your way after going behind.”

Liverpool Need To Be Perfect To Beat Chelsea

Rafa Benitez has warned that Liverpool will not beat Chelsea if they are not on top form.

Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday in a top of the table clash to take on Chelsea and Reds boss Rafa Benitez has warned that if his side play to anything less than 100 per cent of their capabilities then they will not leave London with a positive result.

Liverpool have often come from behind to sneak a win this season, but that task may prove impossible in a ground that is notorious for frustrating forwards for over 80 games and four years.

"Every manager is looking for the perfect 90 minutes... If they score first it will be really difficult for us so we have to do everything perfectly from the first whistle. When we get a chance we have to take it because we know they will have chances as well," Benitez told the club's official website.

"They have a lot of good players playing good football. They're passing the ball really well and scoring lots of goals. But we're going there with confidence, looking to work hard, play well and produce some nice football."

Hyypia Still Committed To Liverpool

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia has declared that he is still ready to feature for the club, in spite of Rafa Benitez's continuing refusal to choose him.

The Finnish defender was delivered the ultimate snub by Benitez this season when he was omitted from the club's Champions League squad.

The 35 year-old has been one of Liverpool's best serving defenders over the past decade but has been cast into the shadows during this campaign.

The early season form of Martin Skrtel combined with the resurgence of Dan Agger has left Hyypia kicking his heels in the stands.

He admits to frustration at not being picked for the side but the former Liverpool skipper insists that he will be ready when called upon.

He told the club's official website: "I am always fit and ready to come into the side. It's very unfortunate what happened to Martin Skrtel because he was playing very well.

"Defensively it may take either Daniel [Agger)] or myself some time to get into the rhythm because we haven't played much, but hopefully it won't take too long.

"Of course all players want to play and I am no different. It can be frustrating when you train hard every day and then on a match day you are at home, in the stands or on the bench.

"That is something I have had to get used to, but I am feeling alright and waiting for my chance to play. When it comes along I want to be ready for playing well."

Anfield Legend Blasts 'Negative' Rafa

Liverpool legend Ronnie Whelan believes that the negative attitude of Rafa Benitez will continue to leave the Reds behind their traditional rivals.

Liverpool are enjoying their best ever start to a Premier League season under Rafa Benitez and go into this weekend's table-top clash against Chelsea with a real chance of ending the Pensioners' 86-game home streak without defeat.

However, an Anfield legend, Ronnie Whelan believes that the tactics favoured by Benitez will continue to hinder the side.

He compared the performances of the Reds' full-backs to those of their Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea counterparts and concluded that the Anfield side are found wanting.

Whelan believes that unless the ex-Valencia manager alters his mindset, then Liverpool's long wait for the League title will go on.

The ex-Irish international used the midweek Champions League encounter against Atlético Madrid to emphasise his claim.

He told the press: “The manager’s negative vibes don’t help Liverpool, especially in the second half [against Atlético on Wednesday].

"We’ve sat here many times and we’re looking for the [Liverpool] full back to get forward. If it was Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal the full back would have been flying down the wing.

“But Liverpool’s full backs are not allowed go forward, and it was killing them in the second half because so many times there was open space but they wouldn’t do it because they’re not allowed get forward.”