I don't mean to presume that this match is any more important for Liverpool than the next one, but there is always something titanic about matches with Chelsea. Something almost gargantuan and monolithic, the matches sometimes frighten me. The intensity and the ability to shock in terms of the result has always been my favourite part of this fixture.
With Fernando Torres leaving Liverpool for Chelsea, there was always going to be a massive point to make. Liverpool is the club that made him, he grew in stature at this club, he was absorbed into it's history. Now he is a Chelsea player and we would do well to remember how to contain his explosive pace and powerful shooting.
Many Liverpool fans will be bitter and enraged by seeing him in a blue shirt, I'm sure Chelsea fans will have a new grin on their faces over the whole transfer saga. I believe that all the Liverpool fans need to think of is a buoyant Suarez and Carroll, grinning wildly and clearly awed by the prospect of playing for Liverpool.
With Carragher's injury, it looks likely he may be a late substitution for Skrtle. I predict that Kenny will go for a 4-3-2-1. Probably, Reina: Kelly, Skrtle, Agger, Johnson: Lucas, Maxi, Gerrard: Kuyt, Meireles: Suarez. This allows a decently packed midfield with the ability to break away and charge the wings whilst getting men in the box, vital for any trip to Stamford Bridge.
I would be very surprised if Ancelotti didn't start Torres alongside Drogba, with a Lampard, Malouda, Zhirkov, Essien diamond and a back four of Cole, Terry, Ivanovic, Ferreira. This will allow a certain degree of wing play against Liverpool's fullbacks.
With Liverpool's resurgence and Chelsea's unpredictability this makes for a very tasty game. The added spice of a 'grudge' match with seemingly every Liverpool fan and player against Torres, just makes a boiling match even more fever pitch.
So I'll give this game a 10 out of 10 rating for it's attraction and go for a 3-2 scoreline, with Liverpool to win of course!
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