Chelsea against Liverpool

Liverpool are taking everything very slowly. Let's be honest, they've been happy with a point since 16.01pm

Ashley Cole goes mental after failing to win the throw right in corner. Calm down!

Joe Cole is replaced now, Claudio Pizarro coming on

Gerrard feeds Kuyt on the right and his reverse pass finds Pennant - his header drops harmlessly wide

Seven minutes until the call of the Fish & Chip chop is answered. Mushy peas though? Or tomato sauce? What about BOTH! No, can't do that

...great chance for Ballack, but it was just at an awkward height and he could only send it wide. Maybe that was the one chance???

Mikel finds Ashley Cole inside the area towards the goal-line, he cuts it back for Ballack...

Belletti takes but Alex cannot get his header past the sea of red shirts

Anelka wins a corner off Mascherano. Time running out for something interesting to happen

Alex is booked now, his fourth of the season

Joe Cole twists and turns and delivers from the right - into the gloves of Reina

Malouda almost gets in past the last man but it's cleared up in the air. Ballack challenges Reina but uses his arm to knock the ball free - clear free-kick

Mascherano floats it in - it's not headed away but it does come to nothing - Crouch adjudged to have fouled Belletti

So, free-kick to Liverpool 35 yards out. Will it be headed away? Let's see

Crouch wins a free-kick for a foul by Carvalho. It will be a yellow card for the Portuguese and Makelele gets a warning for his protests

Liverpool also make a substitution. Ryan Babel is sacrificed and Jermaine Pennant comes on

Another change for the home side. Frank Lampard's return from injury comes to a close - he avoids the yellow card which woudl have ruled him out of the Carling Cup final. On comes Mikel John Obi on return from the Africa Cup of Nations

Gerrard and Babel are on a different wavelength. Gerrard passes one way and Babel runs the other. That's rotation for you...

'In Rafa We Trust' so the saying goes on Merseyside. Misplaced loyalty is not the way to the Premier League title, my friends

Corner to Liverpool this time. Lucas takes over responsibilities - he needn't have bothered as a pea-roller finds the first defender. It comes back to Lucas and he hits it over the top of everybody

Malouda takes possession on the left and tucks a ball back for Anelka - but Anelka leaves it as though he's got a shot when he should have been looking for the control and shot

Cross by Joe Cole, put behind by Finnan. Corner to Chelsea again. It will be Malouda to deliver and again there's no quality. Liverpool's zonal system has still to be properly tested today

Premier League games abroad. Nonsense! Just talking about money, money. Cabin feaver is setting in now with this dross.

Change for Chelsea as Shaun Wright-Phillips is replaced by Florent Malouda

Riise is booked for pulling down Lampard. Free-kick is played in deep by Belletti but it's headed clear (again)

Mike Riley slips over much to the amusement of the fans. She fell over!

In fact, I might just commentate on that game instead. Oh, ok, I'll stay

African Nations Cup final is on at the moment. That's a humdinger. Both Cameroon and Egypt have had gilt-edged chances

Corner comes in from the right, free-kick for a foul on Ballack

Babel takes it just inside the area and cuts back for the shot - deflected for a corner

Another ambitious ball from Gerrard finds... Cech

Long ball. Wayward. Goal-kick to Chelsea. Rubbish.

Joe Cole is penalised for handball when trying to control it in the centre-circle

Free-kick to Rafa's also-rans. It's 30 yards out and Gerrard lofts it in - Carvalho is there to head away

The game has got no better. I just need a pillow and a duvet and I'd be away

Skertl back on

Anelka looks to find SWP at the far post - Riise clears. It comes to Makelele 35 yards out and his hopefully shot is rubbish

Still no Skertl - looks like a wrist injury. Liverpool playing with 10

Gerrard and Riise stand over it. The Noregian shifts it slightly for the Gerrard shot but he can only hit the wall which did not jump to allow the ball to pass through

Gerrard looks to have been tripped by Makelele 25 yards out when thinking of the shot. In fact, he kicked the ground but it's a fre-kick in an excellent position

Free-kick to Chelsea on the left for a foul on Anelka. Joe Cole steps over it and delivers, it's headed out to Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box but his control lets him down

Chelsea must improve this half. Reina had very little to worry about in the first 45

Skertl appears to have hurt his hand in breaking a fall and needs a bit of treatment at the side of the pitch

Wright-Phillips wins a free-kick from Skertl - but Makelele gives it straight to Babel

Liverpool get the second period started

A run-of-the-mill first half between two clubs who rarely produce a stunner. Liverpool just have the edge but Chelsea should have had a penalty

Joe Cole's corner is cleared again and the half-time whiste goes

Belletti drifts it in but Riise gets in front of Alex to head behind for a corner

One minute to be added on as the free-kick is prepared

Anelka is fouled out on the right by Finnan. A last chance for Chelsea.

Liverpool enjoying possession in their own half as half-time approaches

Anelka tries to play in Wright-Phillips down the flank but he'd stopped his run, mindful of the offside flag

Ballack is caught dawdling on the ball by Babel, it's worked out to Kuyt who stays onside - but his cross is way over everyone in red in the box

Joe Cole almost links up with Lampard to put The Deflector in for a shot

Another great ball from Kuyt on the right, Babel goes in there but for some reason the Dutchman sticks out an arm. Free-kick and a yellow card too

Belletti takes it, this time Alex commits a foul

Another Anelka shot is deflected, this time off Gerrard, and it's a corner on the right this time

Joe Cole delivers again but it's too deep for Alex and everyone else and it goes out for a Liverpool throw

Anelka's shot from 25 yards hits Skertl and goes for a corner

Kuyt does well on the right to fine Crouch on the back stick, it's not a good header - over the bar

Ballack finds Joe Cole with the square pass and Anelka is almost in from the England star's through ball

It's been a little better in the last 10 minutes, but still nothing fantastic. But isn't that the way with this fixture?

Gerrard delivers again but this time Babel is penalised for a push on Cech

Gerrard takes from the right but Alex is there to head back out onto the flank

A cross from Gerrard and shot from Lucas are both blocked by Carvalho but Liverpool have a corner

Ballack wins a corner for Chelsea. It will be taken by Joe Cole from the left there's a foul on Reina - Anelka stuck out a leg and tripped the Reds' keeper

Great play from Anelka on the right, he shifts the ball for Joe Cole who in turn finds Lampard on the egde of the box. Lampard looks for the shot but finds five red shirts in front of him removing the option and the move breaks down

Gerrard takes the corner, it's cleared only as far as Lucas on the egde of the box but he has to rush his shot and hits it well wide

Kuyt links up with Crouch and takes the return ball - Kuyt opts for the shot (which is going for a throw) but hits the defender and wins a corner

Liverpool break up the other end, Crouch looks for options but Kuyt's run shows no intelligence - and Crouch's cross hits the first defender

Ashley Cole's ball in the box in woefull. Easy for Skertl to clear

Riise plays a hopeful ball over the top. He simply didn't look up and it's an easy sweep for the Chelsea defence

Mike Riley had a great view of that challenge. How on earth did he not give the spot-kick?

Joe Cole goes down in the ares under a challenge from Mascherano. That was a penalty - and the Liverpool fans ring out the cries of 'cheat'. The ref bottled it. Bottled it

Just think, this quality end-to-end entertainment could be coming to a city near you! What an abhorrent thought...

Liverpool definitely on top right now, Chelsea struggling to make an impression in the opposition's half

...there's no power on the cross which in turn affects the header, and Crouch can only nod into the hands of Cech. A half-chance

Gerrard does brilliantly to take it past Carvalho on the right flank, gets to the byline and produces a lofted cross for Crouch...

At least that was a bit of real excitment. It's probably all we'll get this 45...

...ooh! Inches wide when Crouch really should have hit the target. In fact, he should have scored.

Crouch and Babel link up well just inside the area - Babel lays it off for the England striker...

Crouch gets half a sniff of a shot but fires wide

Lampard finds Ashley Cole down the line with a pass over the top, Cole sees his attempted low cross blocked

I take back by previous comment. This game is not good.

Poor ball from Gerrard, looked for the threaded pass to Crouch but it runs through to Cech

Kuyt clumsily drags back Ashley Cole after over-running the ball

Wright-Phillips looks to take it down the line, but runs the ball out of play

Wright-Phillips and Ballack link up well but Lucas is back to head clear the cross as Lampard prepared for the shot

Liverpool fans in good voice today - unlike the home fans!

It's quite even at the moment, looks like we could have a good game.

Crouch heads it on to Kuyt inside the area - and unsurprisingly Kuyt does nothing. Boy is he rubbish

There's an early booking for Belletti for a deliberate handball. Crouch was about to pounce and out came the arm.

It's a bit scrappy early doors, possession being given up cheaply.

Rafa Benitez has moved to again rubbish rumours of a rift with the owners before kick-off. Their league position is not his fault, you see!

Chelsea take the kick-off,.

Liverpool make four changes (now there's a surprise) from the side which beat Sunderland last time out. Steve Finnan, John Arne Riise, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are all handed starts with Sami Hyypia, Fabio Aurelio, Jermaine Pennant and the injured Fernando Torres all out.

France veteran Claude Makelele holds on to a midfield place with Mikel John Obi, back from African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria, left on the bench. Former Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka spearheads the Chelsea attack.

Frank Lampard returns to the Chelsea line-up for the first time since Boxing Day. The England midfielder has recovered from his thigh injury and captains Avram Grant's side.

Liverpool also make a substitution. Ryan Babel is sacrificed and Jermaine Pennant comes on

Another change for the home side. Frank Lampard's return from injury comes to a close - he avoids the yellow card which woudl have ruled him out of the Carling Cup final. On comes Mikel John Obi on return from the Africa Cup of Nations

Gerrard and Babel are on a different wavelength. Gerrard passes one way and Babel runs the other. That's rotation for you...

'In Rafa We Trust' so the saying goes on Merseyside. Misplaced loyalty is not the way to the Premier League title, my friends

Corner to Liverpool this time. Lucas takes over responsibilities - he needn't have bothered as a pea-roller finds the first defender. It comes back to Lucas and he hits it over the top of everybody

Malouda takes possession on the left and tucks a ball back for Anelka - but Anelka leaves it as though he's got a shot when he should have been looking for the control and shot

Cross by Joe Cole, put behind by Finnan. Corner to Chelsea again. It will be Malouda to deliver and again there's no quality. Liverpool's zonal system has still to be properly tested today

Premier League games abroad. Nonsense! Just talking about money, money. Cabin feaver is setting in now with this dross.

Change for Chelsea as Shaun Wright-Phillips is replaced by Florent Malouda

Riise is booked for pulling down Lampard. Free-kick is played in deep by Belletti but it's headed clear (again)

Mike Riley slips over much to the amusement of the fans. She fell over!

In fact, I might just commentate on that game instead. Oh, ok, I'll stay

African Nations Cup final is on at the moment. That's a humdinger. Both Cameroon and Egypt have had gilt-edged chances

Corner comes in from the right, free-kick for a foul on Ballack

Babel takes it just inside the area and cuts back for the shot - deflected for a corner

Another ambitious ball from Gerrard finds... Cech

Long ball. Wayward. Goal-kick to Chelsea. Rubbish.

Joe Cole is penalised for handball when trying to control it in the centre-circle

Free-kick to Rafa's also-rans. It's 30 yards out and Gerrard lofts it in - Carvalho is there to head away

The game has got no better. I just need a pillow and a duvet and I'd be away

Skertl back on

Anelka looks to find SWP at the far post - Riise clears. It comes to Makelele 35 yards out and his hopefully shot is rubbish

Still no Skertl - looks like a wrist injury. Liverpool playing with 10

Gerrard and Riise stand over it. The Noregian shifts it slightly for the Gerrard shot but he can only hit the wall which did not jump to allow the ball to pass through

Gerrard looks to have been tripped by Makelele 25 yards out when thinking of the shot. In fact, he kicked the ground but it's a fre-kick in an excellent position

Free-kick to Chelsea on the left for a foul on Anelka. Joe Cole steps over it and delivers, it's headed out to Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box but his control lets him down

Chelsea must improve this half. Reina had very little to worry about in the first 45

Skertl appears to have hurt his hand in breaking a fall and needs a bit of treatment at the side of the pitch

Wright-Phillips wins a free-kick from Skertl - but Makelele gives it straight to Babel

Liverpool get the second period started

A run-of-the-mill first half between two clubs who rarely produce a stunner. Liverpool just have the edge but Chelsea should have had a penalty

Joe Cole's corner is cleared again and the half-time whiste goes

Belletti drifts it in but Riise gets in front of Alex to head behind for a corner

One minute to be added on as the free-kick is prepared

Anelka is fouled out on the right by Finnan. A last chance for Chelsea.

Liverpool enjoying possession in their own half as half-time approaches

Anelka tries to play in Wright-Phillips down the flank but he'd stopped his run, mindful of the offside flag

Ballack is caught dawdling on the ball by Babel, it's worked out to Kuyt who stays onside - but his cross is way over everyone in red in the box

Joe Cole almost links up with Lampard to put The Deflector in for a shot

Another great ball from Kuyt on the right, Babel goes in there but for some reason the Dutchman sticks out an arm. Free-kick and a yellow card too

Belletti takes it, this time Alex commits a foul

Another Anelka shot is deflected, this time off Gerrard, and it's a corner on the right this time

Joe Cole delivers again but it's too deep for Alex and everyone else and it goes out for a Liverpool throw

Anelka's shot from 25 yards hits Skertl and goes for a corner

Kuyt does well on the right to fine Crouch on the back stick, it's not a good header - over the bar

Ballack finds Joe Cole with the square pass and Anelka is almost in from the England star's through ball

It's been a little better in the last 10 minutes, but still nothing fantastic. But isn't that the way with this fixture?

Gerrard delivers again but this time Babel is penalised for a push on Cech

Gerrard takes from the right but Alex is there to head back out onto the flank

A cross from Gerrard and shot from Lucas are both blocked by Carvalho but Liverpool have a corner

Ballack wins a corner for Chelsea. It will be taken by Joe Cole from the left there's a foul on Reina - Anelka stuck out a leg and tripped the Reds' keeper

Great play from Anelka on the right, he shifts the ball for Joe Cole who in turn finds Lampard on the egde of the box. Lampard looks for the shot but finds five red shirts in front of him removing the option and the move breaks down

Gerrard takes the corner, it's cleared only as far as Lucas on the egde of the box but he has to rush his shot and hits it well wide

Kuyt links up with Crouch and takes the return ball - Kuyt opts for the shot (which is going for a throw) but hits the defender and wins a corner

Liverpool break up the other end, Crouch looks for options but Kuyt's run shows no intelligence - and Crouch's cross hits the first defender

Ashley Cole's ball in the box in woefull. Easy for Skertl to clear

Riise plays a hopeful ball over the top. He simply didn't look up and it's an easy sweep for the Chelsea defence

Mike Riley had a great view of that challenge. How on earth did he not give the spot-kick?

Joe Cole goes down in the ares under a challenge from Mascherano. That was a penalty - and the Liverpool fans ring out the cries of 'cheat'. The ref bottled it. Bottled it

Just think, this quality end-to-end entertainment could be coming to a city near you! What an abhorrent thought...

Liverpool definitely on top right now, Chelsea struggling to make an impression in the opposition's half

...there's no power on the cross which in turn affects the header, and Crouch can only nod into the hands of Cech. A half-chance

Gerrard does brilliantly to take it past Carvalho on the right flank, gets to the byline and produces a lofted cross for Crouch...

At least that was a bit of real excitment. It's probably all we'll get this 45...

...ooh! Inches wide when Crouch really should have hit the target. In fact, he should have scored.

Crouch and Babel link up well just inside the area - Babel lays it off for the England striker...

Crouch gets half a sniff of a shot but fires wide

Lampard finds Ashley Cole down the line with a pass over the top, Cole sees his attempted low cross blocked

I take back by previous comment. This game is not good.

Poor ball from Gerrard, looked for the threaded pass to Crouch but it runs through to Cech

Kuyt clumsily drags back Ashley Cole after over-running the ball

Wright-Phillips looks to take it down the line, but runs the ball out of play

Wright-Phillips and Ballack link up well but Lucas is back to head clear the cross as Lampard prepared for the shot

Liverpool fans in good voice today - unlike the home fans!

It's quite even at the moment, looks like we could have a good game.

Crouch heads it on to Kuyt inside the area - and unsurprisingly Kuyt does nothing. Boy is he rubbish

There's an early booking for Belletti for a deliberate handball. Crouch was about to pounce and out came the arm.

It's a bit scrappy early doors, possession being given up cheaply.

Rafa Benitez has moved to again rubbish rumours of a rift with the owners before kick-off. Their league position is not his fault, you see!

Chelsea take the kick-off,.

Liverpool make four changes (now there's a surprise) from the side which beat Sunderland last time out. Steve Finnan, John Arne Riise, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are all handed starts with Sami Hyypia, Fabio Aurelio, Jermaine Pennant and the injured Fernando Torres all out.

France veteran Claude Makelele holds on to a midfield place with Mikel John Obi, back from African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria, left on the bench. Former Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka spearheads the Chelsea attack.

Frank Lampard returns to the Chelsea line-up for the first time since Boxing Day. The England midfielder has recovered from his thigh injury and captains Avram Grant's side.