It seems as though the two teams have some kind of magnetic attraction when it comes to cup draws, as yet again Liverpool were drawn against Chelsea.
This time it’s the Carling Cup, with Liverpool being the side drawn away. That means Chelsea fans will be able to wave their identical and free flags.
Jose Mourinho won’t be there this time, but Liverpool have faced Chelsea far too often in recent years. As well as the two league fixtures each season, Liverpool have faced Chelsea six times in three seasons in the Champions League, the Reds winning two and drawing three of those games. Twice Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the semi-final of Europe’s elite competition.
The Reds also knocked out Abramovich’s plaything in the semi-final of the FA Cup, which they went onto win.
The Carling Cup final was the scene of an extra-time win for Chelsea though, in the first season in their jobs for both Rafa and Mourinho. It’s the arrogance and attitude of Mourinho that turned fixtures against Chelsea into something of a grudge fixture, but many of the players that made games so spiteful still play for the London side.
By the end of this season the two sides will have met at least 18 times in four seasons. Of the games already played, Chelsea have won seven, Liverpool five and their have been four draws. One of the wins for Liverpool was in the Community Shield at Anfield.
The drawn fixture at Anfield earlier this season was the subject of controversy after a bizarre penalty award gave Chelsea an undeserved equaliser.
Full draw: West Ham v Everton, Man City v Tottenham, Chelsea v Liverpool, Blackburn v Arsenal
Ties to be played on December 18th and 19th.