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Two Premier League big guns lock horns this weekend in the Premier League just three days on from their clash in the EFL Cup at Anfield where Chelsea triumphed 2-1, courtesy of a stunning worldie by Eden Hazard.
Both teams helped create history this season by being the first time two clubs began a Premier League season with five wins in their opening five fixtures. The pair occupy first and third positions on the table, with Chelsea's only blemish coming in their goalless stalemate at the Olympic Stadium to West Ham last Sunday, while Liverpool have a perfect record from six.
The two clubs have lofty ambitions of lifting the title come May next year. Hence Saturday's clash represents an opportunity to claim points from a direct rival which could come in handy during the season, as the difference in quality between the top six teams is so narrow that separating them might boil down to who performs better in clashes like this one.
The calibre of players at both clubs ensures that this would be a close one to call. Here are five clashes which could decide the outcome of the match.
#5 Eden Hazard vs Andy Robertson
Hazard is in the best period of his career. After captaining Belgium to there best ever World Cup finish in Russia, the 28-year-old has begun this season where he left off in Russia, scoring five goals in six matches (the exact same number he scored in 43 matches of the 2015/2016 campaign), including a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Cardiff City.
His performances saw him voted into the FIFPro XI for the first time ever, and he returned from the gala to score a potential Puskas Award winner when he dribbled past five Liverpool players before blasting past a hapless Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.
The 28-year-old has seen his stock rise considerably, drawing comparisons with the best players in the world, with his manager Maurizio Sarri declaring him the finest player on the planet.
He will come up directly against Andrew Robertson on the Liverpool left flank, and the Scotsman himself has had something of a meteoric rise, going from relegated Hull City to earning a starting spot at Liverpool and being appointed his nation's captain.
The 24-year-old was initially signed as a cover to James Milner, but he impressed significantly that the multi-functional Englishman was redeployed to midfield, drawing praise for his tireless work ethic and astute defending.
Indeed, many believe that Hazard was only able to score that goal in the League Cup because Klopp fielded Alberto Moreno at left-back and had Robertson played, he wouldn't have had it so easy.
Eden Hazard is Chelsea's greatest threat going forward, while Robertson is a key component of a Liverpool defence which has conceded just two goals in six league matches and none at Anfield, and whoever triumphs in their battle would play a key role in determining the outcome of this match.
#4 Mo Salah vs Cesar Azpilicueta
Fresh from winning the Puskas Award at the recent FIFA Gala, Mo Salah will set his sights on stepping up to the plate against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old Egyptian international had one of the most spectacular debut campaigns in footballing history, scoring 44 goals and helping Liverpool to the Champions League Final. His performances saw him rightly rewarded in the top three of the FIFA and UEFA awards, as well as being named the PFA and PWA Player of last season.
His standards have dropped somewhat this season, but he has still contributed three goals in the Premier League.
He will come directly in opposition to Cesar Azpilicuetta. The 29-year-old Spanish international has forged a reputation of being one of the most consistent Chelsea defenders since his 2012 transfer from Marseille, and having spent the last few seasons playing out of position (both at left-back and centre-back where he excelled), he has been deployed back to his preferred position on the right side of the defence.
This battle of pace and versatility will be an exciting one to watch, and could be a key pointer in deciding who triumphs in the clash.
#3 Sadio Mane vs Marcos Alonso
Liverpool boasted arguably the most potent attacking force in European football last season, and one third of their attacking trio is Sadio Mane.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation since signing from Southampton for a then club record fee, scoring 37 goals in all competitions since 2016.
So far this season, the Senegalese attacker has contributed four goals to the Liverpool cause, and together with partners-in-crime Salah and Firmino will seek to continue wreaking havoc on European defences.
Mane will however not have it easy, as he comes up against Marcos Alonso who has been on a steady rise since donning the blue of Chelsea.
The 27-year-old Spanish international had a spectacular campaign last term, but was cruelly left out of Spain's squad for the World Cup. He continued from where he left off last season, contributing one goal and two assists from six Premier League matches, and was deservedly called up to the Spanish national team last month.
Alonso is an attacking outlet for Chelsea, as his bursting runs down the left channel provides a real threat to opposing defenses, and beyond his attacking duties, Mane will have to do a lot of tracking back to keep the left-back in check.
#2 Jorginho, Kante and Fabregas vs Keita, Henderson and Milner
The midfield is a key component of any team, as the middle of the park is often where a football match is either won or lost, and this won't be an exception.
Both teams have some of the best midfielders in the world, and their midfield clash will be a delight to watch.
Chelsea have won admiration for their aesthetic style of play this season, and a lot of it is attributed to new signing Jorginho.
The 24-year-old was the fulcrum of Napoli's play under Sarri, and so far has shown why he was heavily pursued by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The Italian international sits atop the Premier League charts for most through balls and passes, and recently set a Premier League record for most passes attempted in a Premier League match with his 180 attempts against West Ham on Sunday, the highest in the league since stats were compiled in 2003/2004.
He has been able company in N'Golo Kante, who remains the premier defensive midfielder in the world (and finally got rewarded for his efforts with a place in the FIFPro XI), alongside pass master Cesc Fabregas.
They will come up against a Liverpool midfield who have been one of the best in the league, and were duly fortified by the additions of Naby Keita and Fabinho in the off-seasson. Indeed, the midfield is so spoiled for options that the £45m Fabinho is yet to make a Premier League start, with just one appearance in a matchday squad.
#1 Jurgen Klopp vs Maurizio Sarri
Saturday's clash will pit two progressive managers who have forged a reputation for exciting football against one another.
Both managers play attacking football, albeit in contrasting styles, with Klopp's pressing coming in direct contarction with Sarri's possession based 'Sarriball'.
The first ever professional meeting between the pair ended in victory for Sarri in the midweek EFL Cup clash at Anfield, and a perfect opportunity for Klopp to get his revenge presents itself three days later at Stamford Bridge.
Mangers are by and large extensions of their players on the field, and matches like this are usually only settled by managerial tactics, and whichever of the two coaches gets his tactics spot on and successfully transmitted to his players will undoubtedly be the one who goes back home with all three points in hand.
