Chelsea to play Liverpool...again!

The Champions League Quarter-Final and Semi-Final draws were made in Nyon on Friday and, for what will be the fifth time in five years, Liverpool will come up against Chelsea.

The two teams will have met each other 23 times in the last five seasons in all competitions come the first leg so the teams know each other inside-out. However, one unknown quantity could be the presence of Guus Hiddink. The Dutchman has revitalised Chelsea since his arrival and John Terry, Frank Lampard and co. may fancy their chances against the side who are, statistically, the best side in European competitions.

Liverpool, though, are in excellent form with wins against Real Madrid and Manchester United but with the Anfield club there doesn't appear to be the strength in depth to maintain a title challenge as well as a bid to win the Champions League. When one looks at the squads of Manchester United and Chelsea it is easy to see where I am coming from.

Liverpool have a fantastic core to their side. Reina is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Carragher has been one of the finest central defenders in Europe for many years, the all-round ability of captain Steven Gerrard is well-documented and the sheer pace, determination and finishing ability of Fernando Torres is what makes him potentially the best out-and-out striker in the world.

However, despite having a first eleven padded with some good players, there are too many average players in the squad. Manchester United have Patrice Evra as left-back, Chelsea have Ashley Cole, Arsenal have Gael Clichy, Liverpool?... Fabio Aurelio or Andrea Dossena.

Up front Manchester United have an abundance of talent. Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov regularly lead the line with Cristiano Ronaldo a more than able deputee. They also have Fraizer Campbell and Manucho on-loan at Premier League clubs. Chelsea, whilst not boasting as much striking talent, still have Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, two excellent (and experienced) strikers. Liverpool, on the other hand, have nobody to partner Fernando Torres. Dirk Kuyt is played on the wing, as is Ryan Babel. David N'Gog is unproven and Robbie Keane was prematurely sold back to Tottenham.

The comparisons continue. I would have Essien or Carrick ahead of Mascherano. Joe Cole or Ryan Giggs would get in my team ahead of Albert Riera. Ferdinand, Vidic, Terry or Carvalho would get in ahead of any of the Liverpool centre-backs.

With all that being said, it comes as even more of a surprise when Liverpool do as well as they do in the Champions League. The praise must, in my opinion, be directed at the manager. He may not be the most consistently good manager in the league, but in Europe his record is admirable. His Liverpool side have already appeared in as many Champions League finals as Alex Ferguson's United and more than Chelsea since Roman Abramovich took over. And, as mentioned, the statistics place them at number one in Europe for their performances in recent years.

So Liverpool can not be discounted based on the quality of their squad and should they manage to dispose of Chelsea at the Quarter-Final stage then they will fancy their chances of beating Bayern Munich or Barcelona in the next round and getting to a third final under Benitez's reign.