BlueLion.

Chelsea are expected to start in the following 4-3-3 formation: 1 Petr Cech 19 Paulo Ferreira 2 Branislav Ivanovic 33 Alex 3 Ashley Cole 7 Ramires 12 John Mikel Obi 18 Yury Zhirkov 21 Salomon Kalou 11 Didier Drogba © 39 Nicolas Anelka Subs: 22 Ross Turnbull, 26 John Terry, 43 Jeffrey Bruma, 38 Patrick van Aanholt, 46 Josh McEachran, 44 Gael Kakuta, 23 Daniel Sturridge.

Alessandro del Piero is the greatest striker of the last decade in my honest opinion. Superb player.

Since he scored 27 last year he only needs 13 this season to maintain the average

I believe our priority should be our next Premier League matches; on Sunday and Wednesday (against Fulham). What I'm saying is we shouldn't bother playing too many first teamers if we don't need to.

Malouda and Bosingwa are not available for tomorrow. Malouda has a problem on his ankle after a tackle in the last game,' reported Ancelotti. 'It's not a big problem but he won't be available for tomorrow. I hope he is ready for the game against Liverpool. 'Also Lampard is out, as is [Yossi] Benayoun, as we know, and Bosingwa is not ready for tomorrow. There is more than a 50 per cent possibility Lampard will be involved in the game against Liverpool. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2205283,00.html

I don't believe that for one minute!

http://www.talkchelsea.net/top-of-the-league-and-were-having-a-laugh.html

I'll post it on the website if you don't mind?

Agreed, but I also agree with the point about versatility. It's the ability of our front three to rotate about the pitch that makes us very unpredictable and hard to defend against. I believe Ancelotti is trying to mould Sturridge into another Anelka, which, with his pace and power would not be a bad move in my view.

Well we've seen the problems arise with Lampard's injury coming as a result of hernia surgery... I'm just wondering if he's feeling some similar ill effects. Possible. I doubt he'll ever have another season as great as last year in all honesty. That being said he's an incredibly fit athlete and I don't think he's past his best just yet.

Yeah, he looks as if he's been struggling with a groin injury of some kind. Just looks a million miles from the player he was last season.

Very nicely written, succinct and cohesive. Well done, a very good recount of the month! In retrospect I think this could be one of the defining months of the season. With the results we've had, we've been able to shrug off the impact of key injuries and a mounting fixture list. Overall this is, considering the small size of our squad and the weight of expectation at the club this term, the best start to a season we've had since 2005.

Sturridge changed the game in my opinion. Okay, maybe the most he did in direct attacking terms was that rasping drive as soon as he came on, but his pace, speed and intelligence was key to us winning. He's very mature in terms of his positioning and took up some great positions on the pitch on Saturday. He also had an integral role in the goal as he helped 'suck' the Blackburn players to the ball by peeling off Zhirkov. Very clever player, hope he plays Wednesday. No Borini in the reserves either... perhaps he will get some minutes?

I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks that besides the Arsenal game, Drogba's been shite this month. He looks disinterested and to be honest I think we've played better football when he's been out of the team, such as in the European matches.

Yeah I agree, I can see Mikel playing 45 minutes then seeing Josh come on, for example. However I think we will see a strong line-up, a moderately strong one in Marseille and then a more youth-orientated one against Zilina. I don't really care if we lose either game, the kids simply need the minutes.

I don't know why we're being linked with him, he isn't a right back.

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed his ambition to play for an English club. The Germany international, who is contracted at Bayern until 2012, has recently been linked to several Premier League sides, including Manchester United and Chelsea. And 26-year-old Schweinsteiger has admitted his admiration for the English game, even joking United could exchange him for Wayne Rooney. "I love the kind of speed of the English game but I don't know what will happen with me," Schweinsteiger said in The Sunday Times. "I have a contract until 2012 and we'll see. "What I love is the atmosphere in English stadiums. When we played last year in Manchester it was fantastic. "My brother is a big fan of Man U and he always says, 'Go to Man U, go to Man U.' I say, 'I can't, I can't." He laughed: "Maybe they can swap me for Rooney." Chelsea Schweinsteiger also expressed his appreciation of Chelsea's approach, adding: "I watch the English games on TV and I like the Chelsea style at the moment. They're very strong." The midfielder admits his relationship with the Bayern fans has not always been good, and says he admires the loyalty of the English supporters. "For me, in England the fans are better," he added. "When the team give their best, they are not booing. "It's more like they are fans more with the heart." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_6478629,00.html

Latest is that we're going to loan him in January and sign him permanently in the summer. Chelsea are chasing the signature of Shakhtar Donetsk right-back Darijo Srna, according to his agent. Croatia captain Srna, who is reaching the end of his contract with the Ukrainian club, has impressed in the UEFA Champions League this season, where Donetsk sit second in qualifying Group H behind Arsenal. The 28-year-old's exploits have reportedly attracted the attention of Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, and agent Damir Stimac says a January loan move to Stamford Bridge, followed by a permanent move later this year, is on the cards. "There's a chance of a loan in January before moving in the summer," Stimac said in the Daily Star. "We'll see then." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_6478664,00.html

Branislav Ivanovic has hailed Chelsea's character following his goalscoring heroics at Blackburn on Saturday. The Serbian defender grabbed a last-gasp winner for Carlo Ancelotti's side to seal a 2-1 victory at Ewood Park and keep the Blues firmly at the top of the Premier League table. Ivanovic heaped praise on the entire team's display after they were forced to fight back from 1-0 down following Benjani's early opener for Rovers. "It was a very difficult game for us," Ivanovic told Sky Sports News. "We were 1-0 down but after that we tried to show our character. "(The comeback) showed the character and we tried to stay focused on the game and concentrate after going 1-0 down." 'Substitute' Ancelotti was preparing to substitute Ivanovic before the stopper found the back of the net, but the 26-year-old insists he would have had no problem making way for another player. "I think every game is a different story and you have to be ready for anything," he said. "But I scored and we have to stay focused now." The Blues are currently five points clear at the top of the standings but Ivanovic insists they cannot afford to lose focus. "We have a lot more games to come and we have to stay focused on every game and every minute on the pitch," he added. "Of course it was very difficult today but we will try." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_6477378,00.html

Carlo Ancelotti has told Chelsea it is crucial they qualify for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The Blues, who already sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League, can secure a spot in the European knockout stages with two games to spare if they clinch at least a point against Spartak Moscow at Stamford Bridge. Further to that, a three-point haul against the Russian giants would see the reigning league champions claim the top spot in qualifying Group F by making it four wins from four. Italian Ancelotti, whose team visit Liverpool four days after the Spartak clash, feels a good result on Wednesday night would be enough to fire a warning to their title rivals. "It's very important to win this game," Ancelotti said in The People. "We can qualify and claim first place. And that will allow us to stay more in focus in the Premier League as well. 'Important' "It's not just about resting players in the final games. Without pressure you can also have less problems mentally and physically which is good for the players. So it's very important to get three points. "It will not be easy because in the away game they caused us a lot of problems." Ancelotti is expecting another strong display from Yuri Zhirkov, who netted to help Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over Spartak in Moscow. The Russian has struggled to establish himself at the Bridge since signing for £18million from CSKA Moscow last summer, but Ancelotti feels he is beginning to settle. He said: "It's a big time for him. I think he also played well last year but now he is playing regularly. The goal in Moscow was good to improve his confidence." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_6478495,00.html

YEAH! My Africans Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic scored! Damn, I miss my goal scorer and assist Frank Lampard, are there any injury news?

Perhaps as a shot-stopper and with his distribution, yes, but only very marginally. Overall, Cech is the better of the two at this time.

Looks like it could topple Avatar's gross revenue...

Cech. Four clean sheets and only one goal conceded. Superb run of form from the world's best goalkeeper (at the moment).

Good shout Madmax, they were very, very noisy (as usual)!