Scolari savours clash of the invincibles

Luiz Felipe Scolari believes Chelsea can win Sunday's clash of the invincibles against Liverpool and go on to become his dream team.

Scolari's side have yet to lose in 12 games since the Brazilian took charge, while Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge undefeated in all competitions this season.

After the anguish of missing out on the Premier League and Champions League to Manchester United last season, Chelsea have started the campaign filled with a renewed sense of purpose by Scolari.

The Blues look the team most likely to end United's two-year reign as English champions, but Liverpool can make their own case to be taken seriously in the title race after their best start to a Premier League campaign.

With Chelsea ahead of Liverpool at the top of the table on goal difference, Scolari claims the stage is set for the match of the season so far.

“The clubs have the same spirit. They fight until the last minute to win the game,” Scolari said. “They don't accept that they might lose.

“Sometimes they have been in bad condition in the last 10 minutes but changed the result. This is the best thing. They have spirit. They play as a team.

“This is what I want from my team as well and it is what they give me. That's why Sunday will be a fantastic game – a clash of the invincibles.

“I know it's more difficult than other games, maybe. But it's the same three points as when we played against Stoke, Hull or Fulham.”

Former Portugal and Brazil coach Scolari, whose club are unbeaten at the Bridge in 86 league matches, believes Chelsea are quickly maturing into the best team he has ever managed.

“This team I'm coaching now, I think it's one of the best teams I've worked with in my life,” Scolari said. “Maybe they can even play better than the games we've played up to now.

“We play and we think about winning. One day, maybe we'll lose. But we don't think about the home record. We must think about the competition and think about winning trophies.”

While Scolari is focused on making his players believe they are invincible, Benitez was taking a typically understated approach to the game of the season so far.

Liverpool have gone 18 years without a league title, but expectations at Anfield are growing that this is the team to finally end that drought.

Benitez, who has won just four of 19 meetings with Chelsea, accepts that success in west London would be seen as further evidence of Liverpool's burgeoning title credentials, but the Spaniard has no intention of talking up his team just yet.

“It is too early to talk of titles, but we have the confidence to beat anyone,” he said.

“We could go top, which would be a good problem for me then having to keep expectations down.

“Before the game to talk a lot is not good, afterwards maybe we will have to keep our people calm.”

With Fernando Torres set to miss out through injury, Benitez won't make any bold predictions that leave him a hostage to fortune. But the Reds boss knows his team have already beaten Manchester United without Torres this season, so they have no reason to fear Chelsea.

“Everyone knows Torres is a key player for us, he scores and we win games,” Benitez said. “But we have won plenty of games without him, and we have enough confidence in our squad to do so again.

“Without him it will be a different style of play, but we know we can manage. I believe we have the firepower to beat Chelsea.

“We have the mentality to win this one, maybe after so long unbeaten at home for Chelsea in the league, it is time.

“We are at the top of the table with Chelsea having not played our best yet.”

Liverpool midfielders Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso are expected to be fit after suffering injuries during the midweek Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid, but Irish striker Robbie Keane faces a late fitness test on his groin strain.

Ashley Cole is set to return from a hamstring injury for Chelsea, while Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack remain sidelined.