Form suggests that this is the case, as Chelsea are hot favourites to progress to the final in Istanbul in May. Chelsea top of the league and thirty-one points clear of fifth place Liverpool, who are struggling to claim that coveted fourth champions league place for next season's competition. And in a completely ridiculous UEFA rule/scenario, should Liverpool go on and win the competition, they are NOT guaranteed a place which is their right to defend the trophy. Stupid, ridiculous, ludicrous..... but that is UEFA for you.

Chelsea already three time victors over Liverpool this season, twice in the league and Carling Cup Final must remain strong and be aware and remember that Arsenal and Chelsea played five times over the course of last season - of which Arsenal were victorious on three occasions, but were eventually beaten and eliminated by Chelsea in the Quarter-Final of the Champions League. As a firm believer in stats and probability, my personal preference would have been for Chelsea to have faced Juventus instead. But Liverpool prevailed and are in the Semi-Final on their own merit.

The three games already played between the two teams this season were close and Liverpool were aggrieved in not getting something out of all them, moreso in the game at Anfield and the Carling Cup final at Cardiff and to make matters worse, it was the Red's skipper Gerrard who unintentionally helped Chelsea back into the game with an unfortunate own goal.

I expect Jose will make one change and that will be to start with Arjen Robben, who caused Fulham lots of problems when he returned to action last Saturday. Joe Cole who has been Liverpool's nemesis on two occasions this season, by scoring the winning goal after coming on as substitute in the league games looks to be the one who will be sacrificed, despite his superb form and goal contributions in the last two months. Maybe Cole can come off the bench again and score a another winner, or at least a vital goal.

Tonight's referee is Frenchan Alain Sars. Sars has never refereed Chelsea before, but he has taken charge of Liverpool twice this Champion League season, in games against AK Graz and Bayer Leverkusen. Sars was also in charge of the peaceful 1st Leg Q/F between AC and Inter.

Whatever the team, whatever the performance I just hope that my belief in stats and probability is shot to pieces and Chelsea progress to Istanbul.

It is 'probable' that this could happen.

Probable Team: Cech, Johnson, Terry, Carvalho, Gallas, Makelele, Duff, Lampard, Gudjohnsen, Robben, Drogba

COME ON CHELSEA!!

KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH

Lets be under no illusions here, 'The Special One' will have left no stone unturned and will have near every eventually covered, including, no doubt STATS and PROBABILITY!!

v Man Utd H (L) W1-0

v Birmingham A (L) W1-0

v C Palace A (L) W2-0

v Southampton H (L) W2-1

v Aston Villa A (L) D0-0

v PSG (CL) A W3-0

v Spurs (L) H D0-0

v Middlesbrough A (L) W1-0

v Porto (CL) H W3-1

v Liverpool (L) H W1-0

v Man City (L) A L0-1

v CSKA Moscow A (CL) W2-0

v Blackburn Rovers H (L) W4-0

v West Ham Utd (CC) H W1-0

v WBA (L) A W4-1

v CSKA Moscow (CL) H W1-0

v Everton (L) H W1-0

v Newcastle Utd (CC) A W2-0

v Fulham (L) A W4-1

v Bolton (L) H D2-2

v PSG (CL) H D0-0

v Charlton Athletic (L) A W4-0

v Fulham (CC) A W2-1

v Newcastle Utd (L) H W4-0

v Porto (CL) A L1-2

v Arsenal (L) A D2-2

v Norwich City (L) H W4-0

v Aston Villa (L) H W1-0

v Portsmouth (L) A W2-0

v Liverpool (L) A W1-0

v Middlesbrough (L) H W2-0

v Scunthorpe Utd (FAC) H W3-1

v Man Utd (CC) H D0-0

v Tottenham Hotspur (L) A W2-0

v Portsmouth (L) H W3-0

v Man Utd (CC) A W2-1

v Birmingham City (FAC) H W2-0

v Blackburn Rovers (L) A W1-0

v Man City (L) H D0-0

v Everton (L) A W1-0

v Newcastle Utd (FAC) A L0-1

v Barcelona (CL) A L1-2

v Liverpool (CCF) Cardiff W3-2

v Norwich City (L) A W3-1

v Barcelona (CL) H W4-2 won on agg 5-4

v W.B.A (L) H W1-0

v Crystal Palace (L) H W4-1

v Southampton (L) A W3-1

v Bayern Munich (CL) H W4-2

v Birmingham City (L) H D1-1

v Bayern Munich (CL) A L2-3 won on agg 6-5

v Arsenal (L) H D0-0

v Fulham (L) H W3-1