Woohoo! What a match! I don’t know how the neutrals liked it. For the Chelsea and Liverpool fans, this was a fantastic match. The last half a dozen matches between these two teams have been cracking encounters. This one did live up to the expectations. We knew that this would be a tactical battle. The sub-plots were absolutely fascinating if you had the eye for it.

Chelsea does produce some of these matches where it’s very hard to pick the man of the match. I’m finding it really tough to name my man of the match. Let me try – Didier Drogba for his double assist performance, John Terry for being the rock against Torres, Anelka for his well-taken goal and being more visible that Drogba in a football match, Michael Essien for shutting down Gerrard and driving our midfield, Ashley Cole for being well . . Ashley Cole, Deco for being the brain behind every Chelsea attack, Carvalho for his famous anticipation and no-nonsense defending that didn’t let Torres into the game . . .

That’s more than half the team that steps up to get the champagne. That’s not to say others didn’t play well. This was a match where there was a hero in each one of them. Lampard, after a poor first half, did pick up later on in the second half. He played a bit deeper allowing Essien to play forward. It was Lampard’s tackle that created our first goal. Ballack had a very good game too. He should have scored with that close range header. Ivanovic started in place of in-form Bosingwa but handled his right back position with ease.

And Hilario! The man’s a legend! I thought Turnbull should have played because of his premier league experience but Hilario was up to it as well. He was pretty confident and assured in whatever he was doing. He could have done better with some of his reflex moves but take nothing away from him. I loved his conviction with which he came out and collected the ball numerous times. And that stopping that Steven Gerrard shot towards the end was just so sweet! More of that, Hilario!

The first goal was a beauty. Lampard’s tackles Mascherano brilliantly. And Essien picks it up and senses a quick opportunity on goal and gives it to Deco. Little man through passes that to Drogba, who from the left hand side, plays a fantastic right-footed low cross to Anelka. And what does he do? Without blinking an eye, stabs it on to the net. Does Anelka have a new passion of scoring against his old clubs? He’s now scored against Arsenal and Liverpool. He’ll score against Bolton in the league cup, against Man City in premier league and Real Madrid in the champions league. Wow! the man with most number of ex-clubs? By the way, is this the most important goal Anelka has ever scored for Chelsea?

I was expecting Drogba to own Carragher. He did that on a few occasions but the one he did for the second goal was class. Drogba wasn’t even at his best today but he made two goals for us. That’s Drogba for you. He is back into his habit of going to the ground a little too easily. On one occasion, JT walked up to him to say ‘get on your feet, big boy’ or something like that. JT has gone on record that he advised Drogba to stop going down so often. Whatever. He created two goals. That’s all I want. He can go take a nap on the pitch if he scores a hattrick.

Let’s not wait to thank Rafa. Tubby helped our cause by not playing Benayoun. That’s one player I fear. I was just hoping that Benayoun and Babel don’t start. Tubby duly supported me there. I would never understand why you’d keep a dangerous Benayoun inside and play Lucas in the starting eleven against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. I hope Rafa does not get sacked for at least the next 10 seasons. Torres was subdued all along. He did turn Ivanovic around in a flash once but that was it. He didn’t do anything that he’s feared for. The Chelsea defence just showed him what Chelsea defence is all about.

Tubby wanted only a 0-0. That’s why their defence played narrow and Johnson didn’t come forward enough. By the way, I didn’t understand why the fans booed GJ? That’s unfair. Until the first goal, Chelsea completely dominated the match, reducing Liverpool to their trademark counterattacks. By the end of first half, the possession stats read 59% for Chelsea, of course, with more shots on and off the target. At half time, I was telling my mate that we’re scoring in the second half and we’re winning this match. I was that confident looking at how Chelsea controlled the match.

I just heard that a hairdryer broker Fergie’s TV. That’s football. No one knows better than you, old man! I know he’d have loved to see a 0-0 draw with no takeaway for either teams. Now with this result, we’re back on top of the table with a lead of 2 clear points. Bear in mind, if Man City win their 2 games in hand, we’d be tied with them.

Ancelotti has passed yet another test. Now for God’s sakes, let’s not compare Lose Failipe and Carletto. Now he’s beaten Man Utd, Tottenham and Liverpool. He knows what he’s doing. He used only one substitute. He didn’t bring in Joe Cole or Zhirkov. He could have but he did not. He has a plan and absolutely knows what he’d doing. Read my last line of the last blog again :-) ‘Put the scousers out of sight’. Isn’t that what we’ve done? 6 points gap and we’re only in October. Good times are back . . .

Goosebumps . . goosebumps . . goosebumps. God . . please . . let us win this match. I mean ‘this’ match. I know I’ll say this again when we play the sunbears but for now, let’s please win this match. I care a damn how we win. We need to win. I don’t care how we win. A deflected goal or a goal that doesn’t cross the line or a penalty from a blatant dive or a goal from the heavens. Basically, let’s do a Liverpool to Liverpool.

Last season, a high flying Scolari was halted by Liverpool, in the match that also brought Chelsea’s incredible home league run to a stop. But the difference now is Ancelotti’s Chelsea have shown that they can win key matches, derby matches and matches against rivals. I certainly believe that Chelsea have it in them to beat all their rivals this season.

After a depressing defeat against Wigan, the mid-week champions league match against unknown Apoel Nicosia didn’t record our recovery or rampage. In fact, the mid-week match has raised more doubts on if the Wigan match was an aberration or a beginning of a slump in form. But let’s remember, Liverpool were beaten by the Viola and that too with a 2-0 scoreline.

Hilario will be on goal this Sunday. I really really hope that Hilario produces a performance. Tubby would see him as the weak link in our team and surely would have a plan just around Hilario. Expect Gerrard, Torres, Riera and Kuyt to test Hilario from distance and from awkward angles. Hilario should not just be stopping shots but should also comfortably catch the ball. I have an eerie feeling that we would concede on a rebound because Hilario would punch a ball that he should catch. But, let’s put those fears away. Let’s back our man, Hilario! He truly needs our support and that’s what he too says:

I hope we have the same as we did against Tottenham, because that was amazing. It’s good for the fans to get themselves in one voice, it makes a big difference to a game, no player likes playing without any noise. Although we are focused on our warming up and the game, it is always good to have the crowd behind you. The atmosphere and people shouting always makes an impact on you. It’s good for the players, it’s good for the fans, it’s always good for everyone.

I might be sounding a bit negative and dull but honestly I think Chelsea can win this one. Players like Drogba and Lampard love playing Liverpool. They have always done well against Liverpool. We know that Lampard has not scored for some matches now. Put your money on the man who scored a brace on this very pitch against this very opposition in the champions league semi final last season.

I think we should play in our own style. We should try to first control the game, dominate the midfield and wait for our chances. There is no need to hurry. Draw is not desirable but certainly acceptable in such matches. And yes, most importantly, be awake during the set piece situations. Ancelotti puts it nicely:

Our objective is to play well because if you play well it the best way to win. I would like see Chelsea control the game on Sunday with intelligence. Playing against Liverpool will not be easy because they have a very good organisation defensively and they use the quality of the offensive players, of Torres and of Gerrard to attack. We have to be intelligent and read the situation of the game. Our players are used to playing these matches and it is important in these matches to have intensity and courage to play.

Ancelotti did lose an unbelievable match against Liverpool in the champions league final but he did lead an older Milan team to avenge for that defeat a couple of years later. I fully trust in him. This would be a fantastic match for him to win at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea to win 2-1. Drogba and Lampard to score. Let’s put them out of sight!