Rodgers: They have strength in depth
Brendan Rodgers has pinpointed the one game this season which emphasised the sheer strength of Chelsea's squad ahead of the Reds' trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
It came on October 29, 2013, against Arsenal at the Emirates in the Capital One Cup, when Jose Mourinho dismantled his starting XI and sent out a makeshift side in its place.
Chelsea were convincing 2-0 winners at the home of the league leaders, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata finding the net to help demonstrate the wealth of quality that exists within their ranks.
And with a hectic Christmas schedule already in full swing, Rodgers believes such depth will allow Mourinho's men to be at full strength for tomorrow's showpiece clash.
"Chelsea have a lot of quality," he told reporters gathered at Melwood. "They are a club that over the last 10 years has been up there as one of the most successful in the country and in Europe.
"How they've been building up that squad and that team and how they've changed it has been remarkable really.
"I think we saw it earlier on in the season, when they changed the team for the cup game against Arsenal. It was a totally different XI, but it was a really good performance which got them a result there.
"So it shows you the strength of the club that they can do that. But they've got a host of talented players and a world-class manager. So we understand how difficult it'll be."
Rodgers will lock horns with Mourinho for the first time as a manager tomorrow afternoon, having worked under the guidance of the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss during his time at Chelsea's Academy.
The pair first crossed paths shortly after the Portuguese was appointed at Stamford Bridge in 2004 - and Rodgers believes the meeting had a hugely profound effect on his career.
"I probably wouldn't be sat here today if it wasn't for him," admitted the Northern Irishman. "When I speak and hear about Jose, it's first and foremost as a friend.
"From the first time I met him, one evening in September 2004, he had come into the club earlier that summer, and when I was invited to speak to him about my role, we hit it off straight away.
"From that moment in time he gave me the self-esteem and the confidence that has prepared me greatly for the role that I am in today. I've been fortunate enough to work with a lot of good people in football and I've learned a lot from many people, but the one thing I got from Jose was the details.
"I described him at the time as the best day-to-day organiser in world football and I was very fortunate to have worked with someone of that calibre for just over three years. I really learned from him.
"He probably didn't know it, but I used to stand at the back of press conferences for a couple of years to see how he dealt with media."
Mourinho's side are currently one point clear of Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League table - and Chelsea have dropped just two points in front of their own supporters all season.
However, unlike Manchester City, who have been formidable at the Etihad, plundering 37 goals in nine games, Chelsea have endured some close-fought encounters in the capital.
Reporters put it to Rodgers that there was room for improvement at the Bridge, but the manager offered a pragmatic response.
"They are getting the results and that's all that will concern Jose and the supporters," said Rodgers. "I think every team will always look to improve their performance level and with Jose coming into a new group of players, it will have taken him a wee bit of time to understand the method of how they work.
"But they're picking up results, they've got world-class players and a talented squad. They're up there in that top four, where they will expect to be."