Cech out of Liverpool test

Posted Sunday, October 04, 2009 by PA

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech is suspended for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool after being sent off against Wigan.

Hilario is set to deputise for Cech at Stamford Bridge while Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa return from suspension.

Deco, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack are fit for selection but Alex (groin) and John Mikel Obi (ankle) remain in the treatment room.

Carlo Ancelotti will renew his rivalry with Rafael Benitez claiming there are no hard feelings from their Champions League meetings.

It is Ancelotti's first match against another top-four club since becoming Chelsea boss.

But it will not be the first time he has pitted his wits against Liverpool manager Benitez, who he met twice as coach of AC Milan in the 2005 and 2007

Champions League finals.

In 2005 AC Milan went 3-0 up only for Benitez's Reds to produce a stunning fightback, eventually winning on penalties. The Italian giants then triumphed two years later.

"I don't remember 2005 but I can remember 2007. Rafa only remembers 2005!" said Ancelotti.

"There is no pain in those memories. A difficult moment can teach you to improve.

"We lost an unbelievable game - it was one of the best matches for me when I was at AC Milan.

"It will remain a memory - not a positive one, but not a negative one either.

"It was fantastic for us to have revenge against Liverpool in 2007. We were sure we would win. The score is level between us now."

During his time at AC Milan, Ancelotti became aware of Fernando Torres - the brilliant Spanish striker who will spearhead Liverpool's assault on Stamford Bridge.

"Torres is fantastic because he is able to score a lot of goals with the head and with both feet. He is the complete striker," he said.

"I like this kind of player. I never tried to sign him for Milan.

"Milan had a good relationship with Atletico Madrid. We changed a lot of players but Fernando was not for sale."

Javier Mascherano is expected to return to Liverpool's midfield.

Mascherano missed the midweek Champions League defeat by Fiorentina in Italy with a slight hamstring injury, but Benitez is keen to have his first-choice holding midfielder back at Stamford Bridge.

There could also be a place for Danish defender Daniel Agger in the squad after he came though a midweek reserve run-out unscathed for his first match of the season following back surgery. Italian defender Andrea Dossena is out with a groin injury.

Benitez insists he will not be at war with Ancelotti, claiming he considers the Italian a coaching "magician".

Benitez's verbal battles with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho were a major feature of domestic and European battles between the teams in previous years.

But the Spanish tactician promises everything will be sweetness and light when he confronts Ancelotti.

"I am looking forward to seeing him again, it will be an interesting meeting and I have great respect for him," said Benitez.

"We have competed together at two Champions League finals and now for the first time in the league. He is a great manager, and hopefully we will meet

again in another European final at the end of the season.

"`He knows how to manage a top side, he had great experience at AC Milan and he is already doing a good job at Chelsea.

"He has not changed too much here, maybe the shape of the team a little but the style of football is similar and the people there are happy because he is winning games.

"I have a lot of respect for Ancelotti, he is a nice man and wants to win. But we do respect each other.

"He has experience of working with top-class players, that is important. In Istanbul against us (in 2005) he was winning and we came back, but he was always working to change that situation.

"In Athens (in 2007) it was very close, but after they scored he was on top of things. As a manager he does not change very much, but that makes him a

magician, someone who can alter very little but then produce a victory.

"When he was at AC Milan, he allowed me to study his work. I have a lot of respect for Milan, his team and the way they played."