Ancelotti wants Chelsea to underline credentials

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti wants his side to use Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Liverpool to underline their Premier League title credentials.

After winning their first eight matches in all competitions under Ancelotti, the Blues crashed to a shock 3-1 defeat at Wigan last weekend and then spluttered to a lacklustre 1-0 victory over minnows Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Those two underwhelming performances have earned Ancelotti the first criticism of his brief reign, but the former AC Milan manager has no intention of pushing the panic button.

His side are still second in the Premier League, behind Manchester United only on goal difference, and sit top of their Champions League group.

So suggestions that Ancelotti may suffer the same fate as Luiz Felipe Scolari, who saw his spell as Chelsea manager unravel after Liverpool won at Stamford Bridge in the corresponding fixture last season, get short shrift from the Italian.

The Blues were unbeaten in all competitions until Liverpool ended their 86-match unbeaten run last October and three months later Scolari was gone.

But Ancelotti, speaking on Friday, said: “We didn’t play well on Wednesday but when that happens it’s still important to win because it maintains a good atmosphere in the dressing room.

“It’s an important game against Liverpool and there is a good spirit in the team.

“Liverpool is a big test because they are a big team. Last season was fantastic for them and they have very good players.

“We can win this game if we play better than Wednesday and I’m sure we’ll play better.

“For sure I’m ready and it’s important the players are ready too. They are because they are used to these matches.

“It’s important to have the courage and personality to give our best on the pitch.

“Every game, whether it’s easy or hard, you want to take three points but more so against a team at the top of the table.

“Our aim is to play well because if you play well it’s the best way to win. I’d like to see Chelsea control the game because Liverpool are very strong in defence.

“They will use Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to attack so we must be intelligent and read the game.”

This will be Ancelotti’s first taste of the Chelsea-Liverpool rivalry, but he knows all about the Reds after facing Rafa Benitez’s side in two Champions League finals during his time at Milan.

Liverpool won the epic 2005 final in Istanbul as Milan squandered a 3-0 half-time lead, then lost the penalty shoot-out. But Ancelotti got revenge two years later in Athens as Milan beat Liverpool 2-1.

Ancelotti’s success in Europe was key to Blues owner Roman Abramovich making him his top target when Guus Hiddink decided not to stay on a permanent basis last season.

Abramovich visited Chelsea’s Cobham training ground on Friday and Ancelotti revealed the Russian was in good spirits ahead of the Liverpool clash.

“I spoke to Roman when he came to the training ground. He watched the training said hello to the players,” he said.

“I didn’t ask him if he is worried (by Chelsea’s form). He is happy because his team is joint top of the Premier League and top of their Champions League group.”