Hiddink can gain the advantage by using Essien to nullify Gerrard

The biggest selection headache for manager Guus Hiddink is who to play as the anchor man in midfield.

His eventual choice will be asked to snuff out Gerrard and stop any through balls to Torres.

John Obi Mikel has played there for most of the season and started in that position at Newcastle on Saturday.

Mikel's critics claim he's no Claude Makelele, but who is?

I believe he can certainly be as good in years to come but there's no doubting he still has to mature in terms of the timing of his tackling.

Michael Ballack has also been used by Hiddink but he didn't impress against Manchester City or Spurs. The German is not a defence-minded player and, and while very intelligent, to ask him to stop Liverpool's dangermen may be too much.

The other candidate is Michael Essien. The guy is a machine. He's been out for six months and looks like he hasn't missed a game. In one sense it would be a waste to play him there. Chelsea are much better when Essien is able to make those foraging runs into an opponent's box and, although not as prolific as Frank Lampard, he's already come up with some important goals this season.

But he's probably the only guy able to keep up with Gerrard (right) - Hiddink could even be tempted to do a man-to-man job on him - and if it means nullifying the Liverpool captain, then Essien would gladly sacrifice his forward play for the team.

The pressure will be immense at Anfield. The match winners will be the players able to put self-doubt to one side and play without fear.

One key question, though, is whether Rafa Benitez will allow his team to play with the same freedom they have had since beating Real Madrid 4-0 in the last round.

The Spaniard has been in this position many times but, whatever he says, he's not happy playing the first leg at home.

His natural instinct will be to keep things tight, not to concede a goal and nick one down the other end. But with the Anfield crowd behind them, coupled with the way Liverpool have been positive in blitzing Madrid at home and Manchester United away, he must be tempted to attack from the start.

Liverpool have, of course, done the double over the Blues this season. But this is a very different Chelsea side under Hiddink.

Despite the Reds making ground on United in the Premier League, it's Chelsea who are top of the form table with 15 points from six matches, Liverpool have 13. At Stamford Bridge the fitness levels are up, the belief is there and, the Tottenham game apart, they are looking very much like the Chelsea of old.

This fixture has become an annual event and, however these two teams approach the first leg, I have a feeling that it will be finely poised going into the second. No one, including me, has ever been able to confidently predict the outcome between two evenly matched sides.

One thing I do expect is that, whoever wins, the tie will be decided by either a flash of brilliance, a controversial decision or a big mistake.