Chelsea to put Reds' resurgence to the test

With their team joint top of the Premier League after eight games and still unbeaten, with wins against rivals Everton FC and Manchester United FC under their belts, a generation of Liverpool FC fans have not known a start quite like it.

Resolve
It is 12 years since Liverpool last amassed 20 points by this stage of the season and Rafael Benítez's men are showing a resolve that suggests they finally may be able to mount a sustained title challenge. In each of their last two league matches, against Manchester City FC and Wigan Athletic FC, they have come from behind to win 3-2 and, if the performances have not always been pretty, it is the points that matter most as Liverpool target a first championship in 19 years.

Chelsea style
That ambition will be put to the test on Sunday when they face joint-leaders Chelsea FC. The London club, like Liverpool, are showing a different side to their character this term. Style as well as substance has come to the fore under Luiz Felipe Scolari and whereas Liverpool are grinding out results, Chelsea are grinding opponents into submission. Last Saturday's 5-0 victory at Middlesbrough FC took their Premier League goal tally to 19 from eight games, with just three conceded.

'Momentum'
Add to that an impregnable home record standing at 86 top-flight matches undefeated and it is little wonder goalkeeper Petr Čech is undaunted by Sunday's showdown. "Liverpool were not playing that well at the start of the season, but they got the results and this shows the strength of the team," he told uefa.com. "When you don't play well and you keep winning, that's a sign of strength and a good mentality within the team. They have the momentum at the moment but we're at home and we hope our record there will prove decisive. Liverpool are a dangerous side and can score at any moment but we have played them many times and know what to expect."

'No fear'
It is Liverpool's first trip to Stamford Bridge since being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Chelsea in the semi-finals last April, and though the Blues have dominated Liverpool in recent league encounters in London – winning ten of the last 12 – according to Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso that could be about to change. "Beating United in our first big test of the season was very important for our confidence and this is another big test for us," he said. "We know Chelsea have a great record at home in the Premier League but we honestly feel we're ready to get a good result there. We won't be going to Stamford Bridge with any fear."

Casualties
Alonso and Steven Gerrard have recovered from knocks sustained in Liverpool's 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw at Club Atlético de Madrid, but Robbie Keane is still a doubt and Benítez will also be without the hamstrung Fernando Torres. Chelsea have a fair injury list themselves, missing Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba. The striker, Scolari said, needs "a minimum of one week or ten days more" to recover from his ankle and knee problems.