Chelsea FC vs Liverpool preview - Liverpool are still contenders - Villas-Boas

Posted Sunday, November 20, 2011 by PA

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has refused to rule Liverpool out of the Barclays Premier League title race, despite them having slipped 12 points behind leaders Manchester City.

Three draws in their last three home games have seen the Reds lose touch at the top of the table, and they could be 15 points behind by the time they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday should City win again on Saturday afternoon.

However, despite their inconsistent form, Villas-Boas insisted Kenny Dalglish's men were still title contenders because of their huge recruitment drive this year.

"I've always seen them as title contenders because it's been assumed by them that they would do it," Villas-Boas said.

"Dalglish has made the necessary changes to Liverpool for them to progress to title contenders this year.

"He made seven changes to the team, seven coming in, which represents the type of commitment the ownership have to put them back on title-winning ways.

"They are one of the biggest clubs in England and I always assumed they were challenging for the title."

For Villas-Boas to say otherwise would cast doubt on the championship credentials of his own side, who have themselves fallen nine points behind City.

Defeat on Sunday would see Liverpool move level with Chelsea, who could then be facing a 12-point gap of their own.

And if Tottenham to beat Aston Villa on Monday night, the Blues might find themselves outside of the top four.

That is a scenario billionaire owner Roman Abramovich is unlikely to countenance for too long judging by previous experience.

The Russian wasted little time jettisoning Luiz Felipe Scolari almost three years ago when he began to fear the club may not qualify for the Champions League.

And with the man who was parachuted in to save Chelsea's season back then - Guus Hiddink - now back on the managerial market, defeat on Sunday would put real pressure on Villas-Boas.

But the 34-year-old insisted losing to Liverpool would be far from a disaster, pointing out Chelsea almost managed to claw back an even greater deficit from February last season.

"Chelsea's recovery last season was from February onwards," he said. "April, March and May are still tight in terms of the calendar.

"All the top teams will most likely be involved in the Champions League, which can dictate tiredness or less response in terms of the Premier League."

However, with crucial Champions League games and a Carling Cup quarter-final also coming up, Villas-Boas acknowledged the next month is crucial for his side.

"It's a good period for the different competitions," he said. "You can qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League, the Premier League can maybe start taking its pattern by the end of December.

"There's also a quarter-final in the Carling Cup with Liverpool, which gives us a chance to go into that competition next year."

Villas-Boas is expecting everyone but Michael Essien to be fit, with the midfielder on course to return from knee surgery at the turn of the year.

Sunday's game will almost certainly see a recall for former Reds striker Fernando Torres, who started on the bench against Blackburn before the international break.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina faces up to his old team-mate with a warning that no-one should write off his fellow Spain international.

The 27-year-old has, by his own admission, had a difficult time settling in at Stamford Bridge since his £50million transfer in January.

Torres has scored just three times in the Premier League and twice in the Champions League since making the move to London.

But Reina, a close friend and Torres' former neighbour in Woolton in Liverpool, believes the striker will come good again.

"He is the same player but it is a different team so it is difficult to judge (how he compares to his best form for Liverpool)," he said at the launch of his book Pepe: My Autobiography.

"I think there are a lot of periods when goalscorers lives are like that.

"Sometimes you do it, sometimes you go through bad spells but Fernando does know how to score and is a very good player.

"With Juan Mata (another international team-mate) behind him he will deliver more goals and will be better.

"He (Torres) is such a good player and he will be a real threat for us - not just him because they have a lot of good players that can create us problems.

"It is going to be a tough game. We have to do things right and hopefully we will take three massive points."

Defender Jamie Carragher (calf) is in contention to return while Luis Suarez is expected to start despite being rested for Uruguay in midweek as a precautionary measure after a minor back problem.

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