Liverpool have no chance of title glory, says Grant

This, however, is no longer the tub thumping reign of Jose Mourinho, rather the 'under the radar' era of Avram Grant.

Gone are the spats that characterised Chelsea and Liverpool's relationship as Mourinho and Benitez locked horns before and after their meetings.

Questioning Liverpool's dwindling title ambitions represents the extent to which the Israeli coach is prepared to go when it comes to stirring things up.

'It is too far for them, it is too many points,' said Grant of Liverpool's title chances,' before adding, as if to take the sting out of his assessment, 'Anything can happen, but now it will be much more difficult.'

Make no mistake, Grant will defend Chelsea as fiercely as his predecessor. But he clearly sees no value in provoking a fight.

'I think it is better for everybody, every person, not to fight against something but fight for himself,' said Grant.

'You cannot take the past and throw it away, say that it is not interesting, especially when two big clubs fight against one another. But I don't think this needs to be the whole issue. I have nothing against other clubs except that I want to be better than them, that's all.'

But what of his players? Surely there are those at Chelsea who still have an axe to grind with Liverpool in an rivalry brought to the boil by their controversial exit from the Champions League as a result of the Luis Garcia's 'ghost goal'.

'I'm sure the Champions League games are in their minds,' conceded Grant. 'You cannot take it out, but I don't think it will affect the next game.'

Of far more concern to Grant tomorrow is keeping his side in touch with leaders Arsenal and Manchester United, especially in a game that has the added significance of taking Chelsea's unbeaten Premier League record at Stamford Bridge up to the four-year mark.

Their chances of doing so have been boosted by Liverpool's loss of Fernando Torres to a hamstring strain coupled with the fact Chelsea are ready to welcome back Frank Lampard and John Mikel Obi to their midfield.

Praising the performances of Chelsea's understudies during Lampard's near seven-week lay-off with a thigh injury, not to mention the absence of his African contingent, Grant said: 'Before we began this spell, our target was to be in the same position with all the problems we had. But we are more or less a little bit better than we were six weeks ago.

'We have missed Lampard, John Terry and Drogba — all of them.'

Obi's departure to the Africa Cup of Nations at least allowed him to see out the suspension for his dismissal in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg win over Everton. But with four red cards to his name during his time at Stamford Bridge, the Nigeria international is intent on improving his disciplinary record.

'I think it is going to stop,' said Obi. 'We will have to see but it is not good for the team to be down to 10 men and I am trying to make sure I don't get red cards.'