Moody Blues look the part

WILL the real Chelsea please stand up? Last Sunday we saw the kind of combative game and fighting performance that was seemingly beyond us at both Wigan and Nicosia.

Whereas before the game I’d have happily taken a draw, it became very evident, very quickly that there was going to be only one winner.

Liverpool weren’t particularly bad, but they encountered us when most of our players were having an absolute stormer and what with Gerrard having an off day and Torres not being permitted to be effective by a Chelsea defence on the top of its game, Benitez could have thrown the kitchen sink at us and it would have made little difference.

Without sounding too patronising, Liverpool should be commended for actually making a game of it.

Terry was imperious; Carvalho faultless; Deco at his tricky best; Anelka clinical; Ashley Cole cemented his place as player of the season so far but I need to give special mention to three who I think really turned the screw against Liverpool.

The first is Hilario.

He made two world class saves, commanded his area with a cool assurance and his decision-making obviously instilled confidence in the defence so they could concentrate on their job.

Considering how infrequently he must get to play with the first team, this is no mean feat so he quite rightly deserved the man-of-the-match recognition he received in many of the media outlets.

Secondly, Ballack. How we have missed him in the last two games.

When he receives the ball, I see opposition players visibly back off — this happened again and again last Sunday — obviously very few Liverpool players fancied their chances much.

We are always a better side with him on the pitch.

Then we have Didier Drogba — where do I start? Has there ever been a player that stirs up such conflicting views in opposing supporters, in the media, in home supporters even?

Last Sunday we saw the very best and the very worst he has to offer. He was virtually unplayable — Jamie Carragher, who is no slouch in defence, was run absolutely ragged.

Drogba’s strength, his mastery at keeping the ball, his tackling capabilities, his dominance in the air, the power of his shot, his set piece accuracy... all of this was evident on Sunday and Liverpool visibly wilted in his presence.

When he is in one of these moods, he is irresistible. You really believe you are watching the best and most powerful striker in the world at the moment.

But interspersed with this, is this inability to stay on his feet which became so infuriating that calls of “get up” rang out around me and beyond by the fourth time he was on his arse. Even John Terry at one point looked exasperated and was urging him to his feet.

It’s a shame as I thought we had seen the end to these theatrics but it seems not. And, if truth be told, if he keeps putting in performances like he did at the weekend, as deplorable as his behaviour is — I think I would overlook it.

After all, Ronaldo was twice as bad and he was hailed the best player in the world. Torres and Mascherano, too, aren’t far behind in the diving stakes. Either that, or there is a particularly virulent ear infection going around.

Ancelotti looked delighted at the result, as the loss against Wigan had some fans wondering whether this was a prelude to a Scolari-type Groundhog day/season.

But the Italian has to take some of the credit for tactically outmanoeuvring Benitez, especially as he took a couple of risks with team selection.

There is still a long way to go, but Chelsea have already disproved the generally-accepted pre-season claim that the team was too old to be contenders.

Not only are we contenders, but there is an underlying strength. As long as we don’t become complacent, are lucky with injuries, and cope with the interruption of the African Cup of Nations, who knows what this bunch of old timers could achieve?

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