Liverpool against Chelsea

Kuyt receives Aurelio's pass about eight yards from goal but can't get his shot on target. Liverpool are running out of time here.

Babel involves himself immediately but his shot is weak and well off target.

Chelsea manage to get in to the Liverpool penalty area but run out of ideas once they do so. Another change - Kalou is off for Miroslav Stoch.

Great covering header from Terry but it breaks to Benayoun who immediately volleys an effort only inches over. Meanwhile Mascherano is off and Ryan Babel is on.

Torres is the benificiary of some slack Chelsea passing and he tries to get a sight of goal. He manages it but Chelsea have enough bodies back to smother his shot.

Marvellous shot from Benayoun who cut inside with great effect and brings a smart save from Cech.

Torres improvises a bicycle-kick but it is more penny-farthing than speedy racer and fails to trouble Cech.

Great ball in from Arbeloa but Bosingwa is well positioned at the back to make a great defensive header.

Benayoun cuts inside neatly but Alex intercepts the ball well once more.

Aurelio curls in a ball towards Torres who looked to receive a nudge from Terry to demanding howls from the Kop which the referee ignores.

Riera is coming off now for Yossi Benayoun.

This time though Torres is penalised for a raised arm.

Torres tees himself up from a corner and Mikel has to flick it behind for another corner which in turn is put behind by Bosingwa.

Didier Drogba is also on and Malouda was removed for Chelsea.

Gerrard now has got a yellow for diving on the edge of the penalty area in seach of a free-kick.

Nicolas Anelka is removed to be replaced with Deco.

Alex defends well once more to get the ball away.

The Liverpool fans, but not their captain, scream for a penalty as Gerrard went down in the Chelsea penalty area. Then Bosingwa has to put the ball behind to concede a corner. Alonso's shot is then deflected and strikes the crossbar. Liverpool are getting closer and they have a corner.

Cole screams for a handball shout which he wins and Chelsea take the free-kick. Reina comes to take the ball as Ballack lurked close by.

Alonso squares it to Gerrard but his effort is blocked and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

Alonso hits a shot which Mikel handles and Liverpool have a free-kick about thirty yards out.

Liverpool will be confident now. Chelsea had offered little in the second half and you would suspect will often even less now. But do Liverpool have what it takes to break down what will now be an obdurate ten-man defensive wall?

Another thumping tackle from Lampard on Alonso has seen the Chelsea man red-carded! It was very much six of one though and in all honesty Alonso looked to be more in the wrong. It looks as if Lampard won the ball. Harsh.

Gerrard flew in to a challenge on Mikel and was somewhat fortunate not to be booked for it.

Arbeloa has cut a ball back to Kuyt who is well challenged by Terry. It breaks back to Arbeloa who decides to shoot when he should have squared it once more.

Gerrard breaks from midfield but Mike Riley blows for a foul on him when the Liverpool captain looked like he would prefer to have played on. The skipper seems to be growing in to the game.

Gerrard cushions a header back to Torres who doesn't control brilliantly but gets a a shot away. Alex is there though to make an important block.

Mikel now goes in the naughty boys book as he takes down Mascherano.

Gerrard's corner is poor but so too is Alex's header. He misses it and it breaks to Kuyt who can't direct his shot on target. A half chance for the home side.

Good play from Gerrard who plays in Kuyt but his cross is way too deep although Bosingwa has needlessly chested it behind for a corner.

Aurelio runs in to Mikel and Chelsea take control once more.

Play has continued and Chelsea are a man down for now. Liverpool press up the park looking to make their brief numerical advantage count but the move breaks down as Cech collects the ball.

Thirty five seconds in and we have another yellow with a high tackle from Alonso on Kalou who is down on the deck injured.

We are off once more and Liverpool will be attacking the Kop in this half.

HALF-TIME: A pretty predictable Liverpool Chelsea game so far with Liverpool shading it in terms of chances but hopefully the second half can provide some highlights more worthy of the name.

A great piece of individual play from Gerrard who beats a couple of players and then plays a lovely ball through to Riera who seemed reluctant to shoot and attempts a badly thought out pass back to Gerrard. Shoot!

Mikel and Torres have words after the Chelsea man tumbled to the ground. Chill out man!

Bosingwa's challenge puts it out for another corner right in front of the Chelsea fans who will be pleased to see Cech rising to punch the ball cleanly away when the corner is taken.

Almost a goal there as Cole looked like he had knocked it in to his own net as Cech parried a save straight at the ex-Arsenal man. Corner to Liverpool.

Gerrard shows a bit of endeavour and sprays the ball out wide to Aurelio. Liverpool launch a quick attack but Torres is crowded out in the Chelsea penalty area and the Blues clear the danger.

Kuyt puts pressure on Cole who wins that battle but comes up against Aurelio who takes him down. Free-kick to Chelsea and Cole takes it himself. Anelka is the lone blue shirt leaping for it amongst the red wall of Liverpool defenders but he manages to get a shot in which Skrtel does well to block.

Skrtel puts in a firm challenge to concede a free-kick which Lampard floats in. Aurelio heads the ball away though and any threat posed has evaporated. This game is in need of an injection of something very quickly as it is so far a pretty dull encounter.

Corner to Chelsea taken by Lampard and he finds Terry who can't get his header on target.

Torres swivels and shoots but Alex throws himself in front of his shot from about twelve yards out. Good defending from the big Chelsea man.

Cech had come a long way from goal and was somewhat careless as he played the ball out.

Mikel attempts to sweep up at the back but gets the fear and plays it back to John Terry to sort out and the skipper delegates well by giving it to Petr Cech to sort out.

Ashley Cole almost got a sight on goal but Skrtel had got across to make an important challenge.

Gerrard feeds Torres on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area after a quick free-kick but when Torres plays it back to the Liverpool skipper Ashley Cole has got back well to track his run and block his effort.

Anelka reaches Bosingwa's cross in to the Liverpool penalty area but can't direct his effort goalwards and Liverpool get it clear.

Fabio Capello is watching from the stands today and is possibly trying to solve the eternal conundrum - Gerrard, Lampard or both?

Another yellow card is brandished in the direction of Ashley Cole this time after he took out Dirk Kuyt who looked to have got the better of the Chelsea full-back.

It's a scrappy game so far and now Aurelio rises gingerly to his feet after a hefty challenge earns his side a free-kick.

Mascherano is late once more with a tackle and he has now been booked.

Mascherano lines up a long-range shot and lets fly with a low effort but it is too close to Cech. He fumbles the catch though and the Liverpool fans are screaming for a red shirt to be following up. Nobody is there to take advantage though and a certain Irishman screams at a TV set 'I would have been there! I would!'

Bit of afters there between Mascherano and Ballack and that looks like it could be a feisty personal duel this afternoon.

Good battling from Mikel wins a midfield tussle and Chelsea knock it about for their first real period of sustained control. Ballack's hopeful ball to the left is wasteful though and the move breaks down.

Terry is very casual with a clearance which Kuyt charges down but the Dutchman is forced too wide and rushes his cross when he should have looked up and seen Gerrard who was well placed. Easy from here this though.

Another shrill blast of Mike Riley's whistle signifies a foul on Torres by Ballack.

Cech clears the corner at the second attempt.

The first save of the day comes from Cech who leaps to his right to keep out a swerving Alonso drive. Corner to Liverpool.

Ballack this time is felled by Mascherano and already we are seeing the results of a heavily populated midfield full of highly competitive ball-winners.

Safe covering header back to Petr Cech from John Terry. It will take more than Steven Gerrard's boot to damage his sturdy noggin.

Mascherano wins a great tackle then plays a ball to Gerrard who lays it off back to him before Ballack fouls the Argentinian.

Gerrard goes in with a high foot on John Terry and concedes a free-kick.

Bosingwa is felled by Riera who earns himself a stern rebuke from Mike Riley. It was actually Gerrard who looked more at fault for kicking the ball at Bosingwa as he lay on the ground.

Cole puts the ball out for a throw as Arbeloa advanced down the right.

Torres charges down a Lampard free-kick and Liverpool break, although Steven Gerrard loses possession on the edge of the Chelsea box.

Chelsea start the game and there is a warm embrace between the kidney stone kids on the respective benches. We are away...

Flakes of snow are falling on to the Anfield pitch as the teams emerge to the red-hot intensity of the home support. These two teams know each other inside out and the fear today could be that we will merely see this over-familiarity nullify any element of surprise either side may pose.

Chelsea start with Nicolas Anelka as the sole striker and Didier Drogba and Deco on the bench. Fernando Torres will forage on his own up front for the home side in a game which looks as if it could be a tad congested in the middle of the park.

The teams have been announced and as already widely reported the big ommission is Robbie Keane who is not even included in the Liverpool squad. How much is a taxi to north London from Liverpool?

Join us at 1600 GMT to see a Keane-less Liverpool try and reignite their title charge against Chelsea at Anfield.

Alex defends well once more to get the ball away.

The Liverpool fans, but not their captain, scream for a penalty as Gerrard went down in the Chelsea penalty area. Then Bosingwa has to put the ball behind to concede a corner. Alonso's shot is then deflected and strikes the crossbar. Liverpool are getting closer and they have a corner.

Cole screams for a handball shout which he wins and Chelsea take the free-kick. Reina comes to take the ball as Ballack lurked close by.

Alonso squares it to Gerrard but his effort is blocked and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

Alonso hits a shot which Mikel handles and Liverpool have a free-kick about thirty yards out.

Liverpool will be confident now. Chelsea had offered little in the second half and you would suspect will often even less now. But do Liverpool have what it takes to break down what will now be an obdurate ten-man defensive wall?

Another thumping tackle from Lampard on Alonso has seen the Chelsea man red-carded! It was very much six of one though and in all honesty Alonso looked to be more in the wrong. It looks as if Lampard won the ball. Harsh.

Gerrard flew in to a challenge on Mikel and was somewhat fortunate not to be booked for it.

Arbeloa has cut a ball back to Kuyt who is well challenged by Terry. It breaks back to Arbeloa who decides to shoot when he should have squared it once more.

Gerrard breaks from midfield but Mike Riley blows for a foul on him when the Liverpool captain looked like he would prefer to have played on. The skipper seems to be growing in to the game.

Gerrard cushions a header back to Torres who doesn't control brilliantly but gets a a shot away. Alex is there though to make an important block.

Mikel now goes in the naughty boys book as he takes down Mascherano.

Gerrard's corner is poor but so too is Alex's header. He misses it and it breaks to Kuyt who can't direct his shot on target. A half chance for the home side.

Good play from Gerrard who plays in Kuyt but his cross is way too deep although Bosingwa has needlessly chested it behind for a corner.

Aurelio runs in to Mikel and Chelsea take control once more.

Play has continued and Chelsea are a man down for now. Liverpool press up the park looking to make their brief numerical advantage count but the move breaks down as Cech collects the ball.

Thirty five seconds in and we have another yellow with a high tackle from Alonso on Kalou who is down on the deck injured.

We are off once more and Liverpool will be attacking the Kop in this half.

HALF-TIME: A pretty predictable Liverpool Chelsea game so far with Liverpool shading it in terms of chances but hopefully the second half can provide some highlights more worthy of the name.

A great piece of individual play from Gerrard who beats a couple of players and then plays a lovely ball through to Riera who seemed reluctant to shoot and attempts a badly thought out pass back to Gerrard. Shoot!

Mikel and Torres have words after the Chelsea man tumbled to the ground. Chill out man!

Bosingwa's challenge puts it out for another corner right in front of the Chelsea fans who will be pleased to see Cech rising to punch the ball cleanly away when the corner is taken.

Almost a goal there as Cole looked like he had knocked it in to his own net as Cech parried a save straight at the ex-Arsenal man. Corner to Liverpool.

Gerrard shows a bit of endeavour and sprays the ball out wide to Aurelio. Liverpool launch a quick attack but Torres is crowded out in the Chelsea penalty area and the Blues clear the danger.

Kuyt puts pressure on Cole who wins that battle but comes up against Aurelio who takes him down. Free-kick to Chelsea and Cole takes it himself. Anelka is the lone blue shirt leaping for it amongst the red wall of Liverpool defenders but he manages to get a shot in which Skrtel does well to block.

Skrtel puts in a firm challenge to concede a free-kick which Lampard floats in. Aurelio heads the ball away though and any threat posed has evaporated. This game is in need of an injection of something very quickly as it is so far a pretty dull encounter.

Corner to Chelsea taken by Lampard and he finds Terry who can't get his header on target.

Torres swivels and shoots but Alex throws himself in front of his shot from about twelve yards out. Good defending from the big Chelsea man.

Cech had come a long way from goal and was somewhat careless as he played the ball out.

Mikel attempts to sweep up at the back but gets the fear and plays it back to John Terry to sort out and the skipper delegates well by giving it to Petr Cech to sort out.

Ashley Cole almost got a sight on goal but Skrtel had got across to make an important challenge.

Gerrard feeds Torres on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area after a quick free-kick but when Torres plays it back to the Liverpool skipper Ashley Cole has got back well to track his run and block his effort.

Anelka reaches Bosingwa's cross in to the Liverpool penalty area but can't direct his effort goalwards and Liverpool get it clear.

Fabio Capello is watching from the stands today and is possibly trying to solve the eternal conundrum - Gerrard, Lampard or both?

Another yellow card is brandished in the direction of Ashley Cole this time after he took out Dirk Kuyt who looked to have got the better of the Chelsea full-back.

It's a scrappy game so far and now Aurelio rises gingerly to his feet after a hefty challenge earns his side a free-kick.

Mascherano is late once more with a tackle and he has now been booked.

Mascherano lines up a long-range shot and lets fly with a low effort but it is too close to Cech. He fumbles the catch though and the Liverpool fans are screaming for a red shirt to be following up. Nobody is there to take advantage though and a certain Irishman screams at a TV set 'I would have been there! I would!'

Bit of afters there between Mascherano and Ballack and that looks like it could be a feisty personal duel this afternoon.

Good battling from Mikel wins a midfield tussle and Chelsea knock it about for their first real period of sustained control. Ballack's hopeful ball to the left is wasteful though and the move breaks down.

Terry is very casual with a clearance which Kuyt charges down but the Dutchman is forced too wide and rushes his cross when he should have looked up and seen Gerrard who was well placed. Easy from here this though.

Another shrill blast of Mike Riley's whistle signifies a foul on Torres by Ballack.

Cech clears the corner at the second attempt.

The first save of the day comes from Cech who leaps to his right to keep out a swerving Alonso drive. Corner to Liverpool.

Ballack this time is felled by Mascherano and already we are seeing the results of a heavily populated midfield full of highly competitive ball-winners.

Safe covering header back to Petr Cech from John Terry. It will take more than Steven Gerrard's boot to damage his sturdy noggin.

Mascherano wins a great tackle then plays a ball to Gerrard who lays it off back to him before Ballack fouls the Argentinian.

Gerrard goes in with a high foot on John Terry and concedes a free-kick.

Bosingwa is felled by Riera who earns himself a stern rebuke from Mike Riley. It was actually Gerrard who looked more at fault for kicking the ball at Bosingwa as he lay on the ground.

Cole puts the ball out for a throw as Arbeloa advanced down the right.

Torres charges down a Lampard free-kick and Liverpool break, although Steven Gerrard loses possession on the edge of the Chelsea box.

Chelsea start the game and there is a warm embrace between the kidney stone kids on the respective benches. We are away...

Flakes of snow are falling on to the Anfield pitch as the teams emerge to the red-hot intensity of the home support. These two teams know each other inside out and the fear today could be that we will merely see this over-familiarity nullify any element of surprise either side may pose.

Chelsea start with Nicolas Anelka as the sole striker and Didier Drogba and Deco on the bench. Fernando Torres will forage on his own up front for the home side in a game which looks as if it could be a tad congested in the middle of the park.

The teams have been announced and as already widely reported the big ommission is Robbie Keane who is not even included in the Liverpool squad. How much is a taxi to north London from Liverpool?

Join us at 1600 GMT to see a Keane-less Liverpool try and reignite their title charge against Chelsea at Anfield.