Reds field seniors v Blues

Liverpool, without Milan Baros and Harry Kewell, opted to leave the youngsters on the bench and play the senior men against the Barclays Premiership leaders.

Out went Stephen Warnock and Neil Mellor to allow Dietmar Hamann and Djimi Traore back into the side, which had just Florent Sinama-Pongolle up front with Steven Gerrard playing an advanced role.

Chelsea, having spent more than £200million in two seasons, have had little sympathy following boss Jose Mourinho’s complaints that he only has 17 fit players for this fixture.

With Alexei Smertin out with tonsillitis and Scott Parker, Robert Huth and Ricardo Carvalho all injured, the former Porto chief was still able to replace Didier Drogba with Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Tiago returned for Smertin while Arjen Robben overcame flu as Chelsea made two changes from the side that won at Portsmouth.

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Alonso, Riise, Sinama Pongolle. Subs: Diao, Nunez, Warnock, Mellor, Harrison.

Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Gallas, Johnson, Tiago, Lampard, Makelele, Duff, Robben, Gudjohnsen. Subs: Cudicini, Kezman, Cole, Geremi, Drogba.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)