Victory for either side will see them top Group G and that should, theoretically, ensure an easier draw come the knockout stages although that is by no means assured with many teams only hitting their best form in Europe after the group stages.

Liverpool and English champions Chelsea have produced some memorable encounters in recent years notably last season's semi-final where a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge was followed by Liverpool's 1-0 win at Anfield.

Chelsea are currently 12 points clear of the Reds at the top of the Premiership.

But Liverpool have kept eight straight clean sheets that includes a run of six successive Premiership wins.

During Saturday's 3-0 over Wigan they had the added bonus of seeing England striker Peter Crouch, their seven-million-pound pre-season signing from Southampton, finally end a run of 22 games without a goal.

And Crouch insisted that Tuesday's game would have an impact upon both the domestic and European fronts.

"I know Chelsea have a big lead at the top but we would like to think if they did slip up then we will be there to take advantage," he said.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez for one was relieved that Crouch's barren spell had ended.

"Now we have to see if he can do the same, play well and score goals, maybe score goals two games in a row."

Meanwhile Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who in his Spanish rival Benitez has found one of the few English club chiefs capable of giving him a tactical battle, is hoping that Tuesday's match can mark another stage in the return to full fitness of Arjen Robben.

The Dutch midfielder had been ruled out for five weeks with a back complaint but looked sharp when coming on in Chelsea's 1-0 win against Middlesbrough last weekend.

Other fixtures on Tuesday: Group E: AC Milan v Schalke 04, PSV v Fenerbahce Group F: Lyon v Rosenborg, Olympiakos v Real Madrid Group G: Chelsea v Liverpool, Real Betis v Anderlecht Group H: Artmedia Bratislava v FC Porto, Rangers v Inter Milan - Nampa-AFP

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