Chelsea v Liverpool: Champions League preview, match facts, stats and team news

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Chelsea team news

Chelsea captain John Terry is suspended for the Champions League quarter-final return leg against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Terry misses out after collecting a yellow card for his challenge on Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina at Anfield.

Right-back Jose Bosingwa is expected to be sidelined because of hamstring trouble while Alex will replace Terry alongside Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of the defence.

Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are absent with knee ligament injuries.

Team (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Mancienne, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Obi, Kalou, Essien, Malouda, Di Santo, Anelka, Quaresma, Stoch, Drogba.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is expected to return to the side for tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea following a groin injury.

Javier Mascherano will also be back from suspension as the Anfield men look to overcome a 3-1 deficit.

Manager Rafael Benitez must decide whether to retain Daniel Agger in central defence, ahead of Martin Skrtel, after his goalscoring performance against Blackburn on Saturday.

Team (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Dossena, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Gerrard, Alonso, Torres, Babel, Benayoun, Riera, Cavalieri, N'Gog.

Opta match facts

Liverpool have met Chelsea in each of the last five seasons in the Champions League.

Liverpool have played Chelsea 23 times in four and a half seasons since Rafael Benitez arrived, winning seven and losing 10.

Didier Drogba has scored in his last four Champions League matches.

Chelsea have got the most prolific defenders, with four goals in nine games so far.

Chelsea have never before conceded three goals at home in the Champions League.

Liverpool have scored three or more goals in Champions League away matches on six occasions, last time against PSV in December 2008.

Key battles

Ricardo Carvalho v Fernando Torres

Liverpool need three away goals to stand any chance of progressing and all eyes will be on Torres to deliver them - although with three lethal finishes in his last two games, the Spaniard is in the best possible shape to do so. His chances will have been enhanced by John Terry's suspension for this match, although Hiddink can call on a more than able deputy in the form of Ricardo Carvalho, whose return to the Chelsea side could not be more timely. The Portuguese has all the attributes to nullify the threat of arguably the world's greatest striker and the outcome of this battle could prove decisive for the tie.

Michael Essien v Steven Gerrard

Cometh the hour, cometh the man - if he is fit. Liverpool need to pull off something extraordinary at Stamford Bridge and Gerrard is their specialist in the field of miracle-working. The inspirational skipper will be hoping to drive his team to a comeback similar to that achieved against AC Milan in the 2005 final in Istanbul. But much will depend on Gerrard's recovery from a groin problem and if anyone is going to keep him quiet it is Essien - as he did last week at Anfield. The Ghanaian was at the heart of everything Chelsea did and turned in yet another dominant display following his return from long-term injury.

Didier Drogba v Martin Skrtel

The temperamental Drogba has been a revelation under Hiddink and has always loved the big occasion, as he demonstrated with goals at Anfield and in both legs against Juventus in the previous round. Although defence will be first on the agenda for the Blues, the powerful striker will be keen to exploit any weaknesses in the Liverpool rearguard with a goal that could effectively end the tie. Skrtel found Drogba difficult to contain at Anfield and will need to be at his tough-tackling best to ensure there is no repeat at Stamford Bridge.

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