Premier League: Fernando Torres and Chelsea renew rivalry with Liverpool
Last Updated: November 11, 2012 8:58am
Chelsea v Liverpool: The clubs have developed a fierce rivalry since the turn of the Millennium
Chelsea and Liverpool renew their rivalry at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Super Sunday.
After several meetings in the UEFA Champions League and domestic cup finals, including last season's FA Cup, since the turn of the Millennium, these fixtures have developed into tense encounters.
Add to that the fact £50million man Fernando Torres will likely be facing former club Liverpool and looking for his first win against his ex-employers and it promises to be another fiery clash.
The Spaniard made his debut for Chelsea against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge after his January 2011 move but has lost all three Premier League meetings and also in the League Cup last season.
Torres did not feature in the last campaign's FA Cup final, when Liverpool were defeated 2-1 at Wembley.
Meanwhile, after losing top spot in the table to Manchester United, Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea, who defeated Shakhtar Donetsk with the last kick of the game in the Champions League on Wednesday, will want to get back on track.
Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers, who worked on the Blues' coaching staff earlier in his career, is desperate for a change of luck after collecting just two league wins since taking over in the summer.
The Anfield club also travel to London on the back of a Europa League defeat by Anzhi Makhachkala, who won 1-0 against a much-changed side in Moscow.
Chelsea
England left-back Ashley Cole will once again be missing for Chelsea when they host Liverpool.
Cole sat out Wednesday's Champions League win over Shakhtar with a hamstring injury and manager Di Matteo hopes he can return for next weekend's trip to West Bromwich Albion.
John Terry, back from suspension, will be pushing for a start on Sunday after he was surprisingly left on the bench in midweek, while Frank Lampard is still out.
Liverpool
Liverpool rested Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin, Daniel Agger, Jose Reina, Glen Johnson, Raheem Sterling and Jose Enrique for their midweek Europa League commitments.
The majority are likely to return to the starting XI at Stamford Bridge, although it remains to be seen if Reina and Johnson are fit.
Reina has missed six matches with a hamstring injury while Johnson has been absent for four games with a similar niggle.
Opta Facts
- Liverpool have lost only two of their last 11 Premier League games against Chelsea and won the last four in a row
- Chelsea have now gone five games without a clean sheet in the Premier League, their worst such spell since January
- Liverpool have played more Premier League games on a Sunday than any other side (187, winning 87)
Previous game's starting line-ups
4-2-3-1
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1
Cech
-
2
Ivanovic
-
24
Cahill
-
4
David Luiz
-
3
Cole
-
8
Lampard
-
57
Ake
-
9
Torres
-
10
Mata
-
11
Oscar
-
29
Ba
Team taken from Chelsea vs Everton (Barclays Premier League) on Sunday 19th May 2013
4-4-2
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25
Reina
-
2
Johnson G
-
23
Carragher
-
37
Skrtel
-
3
Jose Enrique
-
19
Downing
-
21
Lucas
-
14
Henderson
-
44
Ibe
-
10
Coutinho
-
15
Sturridge
Team taken from Liverpool vs QPR (Barclays Premier League) on Sunday 19th May 2013
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Matches
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Barclays Premier League
Table
Barclays Premier League
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | 89 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 38 | 78 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 38 | 75 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 38 | 73 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 72 |
| 6 | Everton | 38 | 63 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 38 | 61 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | 49 |
| 9 | Swansea City | 38 | 46 |
| 10 | West Ham United | 38 | 46 |
| 11 | Norwich City | 38 | 44 |
| 12 | Fulham | 38 | 43 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 38 | 42 |
| 14 | Southampton | 38 | 41 |
| 15 | Aston Villa | 38 | 41 |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 38 | 41 |
| 17 | Sunderland | 38 | 39 |
| 18 | Wigan Athletic | 38 | 36 |
| 19 | Reading | 38 | 28 |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 38 | 25 |
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