It's hard to imagine Didier Drogba rating a goalless day as a personal career high. But the Premiership's top scorer makes an exception for Liverpool v Chelsea last season.

 

Even the most optimistic of Chelsea fans wasn't banking on a 4-1 win from the corresponding fixture to this Saturday lunchtime's match. Especially as it came just days after a near-chanceless 0-0 draw in the Champions League in the same venue.

 

But that's exactly what occurred when by the weekend, Drogba had found a way to breakdown the Anfield barricades, not by scoring but by playing a crucial part in all four strikes.

 

'That was one of my best games last year,' he reflected, talking to chelseafc.com shortly before heading off to Merseyside.

 

'I was very happy because of the work I did. The way we had played in the Champions League four days before, we didn't expect to win so well but we were really able to show what we can do.'

 

Drogba's good days against Liverpool haven't been confined to that one game. His stunning winner in the match at Stamford Bridge earlier this season is still fresh in the memory and even dating back to his Marseille days, he proved unstoppable as he scored at Anfield and led the French club to a two-leg victory in the Uefa Cup.

 

'I am quite lucky because even if I don't score against Liverpool, I always have a good day. I score or my team wins or draws.

 

'Except in the semi-final of the Champions League,' he adds quickly, recalling a painful defeat in his first Chelsea season.

 

Our 4-1 win there, Liverpool's worst defeat in the league since 1969, now stands out as an aberration for the Reds. They havebeen undefeated since in the Premiership on their home patch with just one goal conceded in the last 11 league games there.

 

'They are a difficult team to beat and that is why I like to play against them,' reckons Drogba. 'They have very good players like Carragher and Hyypia so in defence they are very strong.

 

'So this is the kind of game that can show you where you are. If you are good or not.'

 

For our centre-forward's manager, the weekend ahead is all about maintaining the gap between his team and Man United ahead. The leaders play at Arsenal on Sunday.

 

'If we can finish with the same six points difference to Man U, then I think in February, March and April with injured people coming back step-by-step, we have a good chance,' said José Mourinho, talking to Chelsea TV.

 

'Petr Cech is fine. He is ready. I cannot tell you if he is playing or not because the goalkeepers have to be the first ones to know my decision, but he is ready.

 

'We have a new injury with Wayne Bridge,' Mourinho announced.

 

'Again a knee ligament, not a big deal but a couple of weeks out. He is an important option for us but now he is out too.

 

'Ashley Cole is back from suspension but nobody else is back and Makelele is suspended.'

 

One of the boss's main decisions will be whether to maintain Michael Essien as a stop-gap centre-back or move him back into midfield in the light of Makelele's absence.

 

'Michael is doing brilliantly and he can play in many different positions but there is only one of him.

 

'We have problems in the squad but at the same time, the people we have are highly motivated.

 

'The week has been good because it is the first time for a long time that we have had a proper week training - from Monday through to Friday.

 

'We worked very hard, trying to improve the team without the injured players and without new players, just with what we have in our hands, and I believe we are doing that.

 

'I am pleased with the effort the players put in.'