Ballack and Makalele return for Blues

Chelsea recalled Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele to their line-up for the visit of Blackburn Rovers.

But it was the same starting line-up that defeated Wycombe in the semi-final of the Carling Cup last week with Lassana Diarra at right-back in place of Geremi.

Blackburn made two changes from the side that beat Luton in the FA Cup last weekend. Tugay and Paul Gallagher were preferred to Aaron Mokoena and Zurab Khizanishvili.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra, Essien, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Mikel, Shevchenko, Drogba.

Subs: Hilario, Bridge, Ferreira, Kalou, Wright-Phillips.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Nelsen, Henchoz, Warnock, Gallagher, Bentley, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Derbyshire, McCarthy.

Subs: Enckelman, Nonda, Mokoena, Jeffers, Samba.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)