JT's rose-coloured glasses can't see anything but glory for Chelsea

John Terry is such an optimist that he was blind to the idea that this stinker of a goalless draw with Liverpool was in any way a lost opportunity which should see Arsenal leap eight points clear of them with victory over Blackburn tonight.

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Stalemate: Nicolas Anelka raises above Martin Skrtel but neither side could break the deadlock at the Bridge

Rather, the injured captain preferred to ignore the poverty of his men's performance and enthuse instead about how they'd gained a point over a Manchester United outfit who, somehow sidetracked by the high emotion of the Munich commemoration at Old Trafford, had earlier been beaten by their City neighbours.

Condemned to a stint in Sky's rose-tinted commentary eyrie where even the mildest criticism of the Premier League is considered heretical, dear old JT was naturally not about to reflect aloud on the poetic justice that Richard Scudamore's trumpeting of the League's supposed global irresistibility should have occurred just days before two of its must-see products served up this dross of a display.

Even having seen Chelsea fight out a fourth tedious goalless stalemate in four seasons with Liverpool in a fixture which should now really carry a health warning, Terry wasn't bored, only buoyed by increased conviction that this had been the launchpad for Chelsea to enjoy another silverware-laden season.

His optimism must have stemmed from what's still to come, not what he'd just seen. Chelsea's inability to string any more than a couple of passes together while eking out no more than one debatable penalty shout and one clear-cut chance all afternoon was deeply unimpressive.

But Terry was left declaring confidently: "I think we have the advantage over Arsenal and United now."

The draw had ensured that, during Chelsea's most trying period of seven matches without their captain and key players, either injured or on African Nations' Cup duty, they'd remained unbeaten, winning five.

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Hard going: Petr Cech beats Dirk Kuyt to the ball

"So a big credit goes to all the players who've kept us in touching distance over the last couple of months," applauded Terry.

"They've been brilliant and it everyone coming back is going to have to fight for their places.

"But with them all back now, we are the strongest team at the moment."

The cavalry are here in the nick of time.

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On the run: Frank Lampard skips away from a challenge by Steven Gerrard

As Avram Grant recognised, weariness appeared to tell on his stand-in stalwarts for the first time yesterday amid the headless, pinball fare, whether it be Claude Makelele giving the ball way with rare frequency or Nicolas Anelka looking in need of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou to help take the load off him up front.

Drogba, Kalou and Michael Essien are all back today while the return of Frank Lampard, albeit a little rusty yesterday, and of John Obi Mikel offers Grant welcome selection headaches, including the perennial one of whether Michael Ballack, who'd seemingly been quite at home running the show in Lampard's absence, can now work as effectively alongside him. Yesterday, however, suggested perhaps not.

Better news still for the Chelsea manager is Terry himself insisting he could be fit to play Saturday's FA Cup tie against Huddersfield following his absence with a broken foot.

Grant, who doubts his captain will be back in time for the Carling Cup Final in a fortnight, just smiled wryly: "Knowing JT, I'm surprised he didn't say he hopes to be fit in two days!"

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Snap shot: Peter Crouch (above) gets in a shot after rising above the Chelsea defence

Still, with the prospect of the strongest squad in the League reassembled at full depth and the top two having to visit a fortress which, by the time Derby are the next up at Stamford Bridge in March, will have celebrated four years without being breached, Terry's bullishness is perhaps well-founded.

"These days, I'm not too sure all four [trophies] are possible with all the games and the injuries," mused Terry.

"Man United won the Treble a few years ago but now it would be even more tough. But for the second year running we're in all four competitions and I think we've still got a good chance of a Double or a Treble."

Of the lot, though, it's the domestic title he and the players covet most. "The Champions League is up there but the Premier League is the priority. Winning week in, week out over so many games, that's the true test," added Terry.

Using that gauge, Grant's Chelsea have been just about as remarkable as Jose Mourinho's model, with only two defeats in 32 games.

That they came at the hands of United and Arsenal, though, only reinforces the feeling that the manager still has everything to prove.