Football Focus

In case you're wondering where your regular dose of Football Focus has gone, today it's delayed by 10 minutes due to The Lord Mayor's Show.

Dan Walker, Mark Lawrenson and Jason Roberts will be with you at 12:20 from Weston-Super-Mare.

The teams are in the tunnel at Pride Park. Will one, or both, of these sides be joining us at the top table of football next season?

Nic Bullen:, external Sick of hearing about Steven Gerrard's slip. Let's move on. We go again. How Kolo Toure and Fabio Borini aren't starting I have no idea.

Tim Purcell:, external Doom mongers at it already. Brendan Rodgers picks a team based on many factors, not just the previous 90 minutes. Although why Glen Johnson?

Mehran Javeed:, external Big game for Emre Can. He showed strength and resilience midweek as well as adding height in the air.

Jose Mourinho, man of medals, collector of cups, trailblazer of titles. He has a superbly confident air about him at the moment.

Can anyone stop his Chelsea side this year?

Image source, Getty Images

Conor, Cheltenham: Thought Liverpool were the best they've been defensively on Tuesday, yet Dejan Lovren comes straight back in?

Wavy, Bournemouth: I hope Brendan Rogers can prove his critics wrong and that the choice of Glen Johnson and Mario Balotelli in starting XI doesn't backfire. I also hope that he's willing to change things a bit earlier if not going to plan.

Sam: What more can Kolo Toure do to cement a place in the first XI? Doesn't play often but when he is called upon to play in the toughest away fixture and keep the world's best player at bay he plays exceptionally. Surely his confidence would be high? Poor man management by Rodgers!

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, speaking to BT Sport: "My approach is when Liverpool have the ball we have to defend, when we have the ball we have to attack. When they have the ball we try to stop them, when we have the ball we have to score. This is the A, B, C of football. It is simple.

"Nemanja Matic is the man to speak today. Not me. I finished my work with them at the hotel. Every game we have one player to say a couple of words and today is Matic day."

Jose Mourinho also reveals that for every game, a different player is assigned to give the final pre-match team talk.

Today's guest speaker? Midfielder Nemanja Matic...

Image source, Reuters

An early game in the Championship too, as Wolves make two changes to the team that started their lacklustre 2-1 defeat by Ipswich in midweek, with George Saville deputising in midfield for the injured Dave Edwards. Captain Sam Ricketts returns to the Wolves defence in place of Tommy Rowe. Nouha Dicko is named on the bench.

For Derby, Simon Dawkins earns a starting place after scoring the winner within a minute of his introduction as a substitute against Huddersfield on Tuesday, with Jordon Ibe dropping to the bench.

Derby starting XI: Butland, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Mascarell, Hughes, Hendrick; Russell, Dawkins, Martin.

Wolves starting XI: Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Ricketts (c); McDonald, Evans, Henry, Saville, Sako; Clarke.

Image source, Getty Images

"Last season they had everything in their hands - but they lost it."

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wastes no time in putting the boot in on Liverpool as he sports a marvellous scarf in the Anfield tunnel. He does say that Liverpool are still in the title race. Surely they have to win this afternoon?

Image source, PA

It has been 195 days since Steven Gerrard's slip let Demba Ba in to score a key goal in Chelsea's last visit to Anfield.

That's 4,680 hours since the Liverpool captain miscontrolled a pass from Mamadou Sakho, let it slide under his studs and chased back in vain as Ba slotted home.

That's 280,800 minutes since Liverpool were three points clear at the top of the table.

How many times has Gerrard thought of that moment? He could almost see himself lifting the Premier League trophy...

Right then, time for me to hand over to the main man Tom Rostance to guide you through the Liverpool-Chelsea game, and this afternoon's action.

AK:, external Real test for Chelsea today, we will be facing a very spirited Liverpool who are hoping to shut up the critics.

Alex Tuck:, external Brendan Rodgers ignoring Kolo Toure and Fabio Borini despite them making big differences in recent games. Not much hope for today.

Rob Hayman:, external No Borini starting and no Javi Manquillo or Lazar Markovic on the bench. Baffled isn't the word.

Chippi:, external The Chuckle Brothers are starting again then. #Lovren #Skrtel.

Image source, Getty Images

Big changes by Brendan Rodgers, with no Fabio Borini or Kolo Toure. Especially harsh on Kolo after his fine performance against Real Madrid.

Mario Balotelli, who has gone 689 minutes since his last goal in the Premier League, gets the nod in attack.

Ramires is back for Chelsea, and Diego Costa gets the nod to start up front.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa

Liverpool make seven changes from the side which lost to Real Madrid. All of the 'big boys' are back.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno: Can, Henderson, Gerrard; Coutinho, Sterling, Balotelli.

MOTD commentator Steve Wilson at Anfield

"Everyone seems to have had their say about Liverpool's team selection in the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

"From Michel Platini and Jose Mourinho to Gary Lineker and John Toshack, there has been much talk of "white flags" and "dark clouds".

"But hold on - in the press this week there was a supportive voice to cheer Liverpool's beleaguered boss Brendan Rodgers. None other than wrestler Sheamus , externalhas described Liverpool's selection as "ballsy", before adding "there's great potential there"., external

BBC Radio 5 live

Busy, busy day of football on 5 live Sport this afternoon. The early kick-off is at Anfield, with John Murray, Alan Green and Chris Waddle taking you through Liverpool v Chelsea from 12:45.

Then, because of international rugby union fun, we'll bring you action from Manchester United v Crystal Palace from 16:20 in the company of John Acres and Jimmy Armfield.

And mopping up post-game reaction from players, manager and you, the fans, is the nation's favourite football phone-in 6-0-6. Call 0500 909 693 when the time comes.

Tune into 5 live via the BBC Sport website and app, the BBC iPlayer Radio app, digital TV and radio and on 909 and 693 medium-wave.

This morning we have been working in tandem with The Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live and asking you: What are the strangest substitutions you've witnessed or been involved in?

Wiltshire League Premier Division One club Shrewton United,, external on Twitter: In our reserve team a few years ago, a lad had to be subbed off at half-time to pick his dog up from the dog groomers.

Dave Featherstone:, external My central defensive partner went off after 70 minutes to go to a rave. 0-0 turned into 0-3!

Jack Finch:, external Came down in my lunch break, scored a goal to win us the game. Then back to work. "Is that mud in your ear Jack?"

Get involved using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, text us on 81111 (UK only) or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

International rugby union action breaks into the wall-to-wall football on BBC Radio 5 live, which means its digital sister station 5 live sports extra comes to us football fans' rescue.

Tune in for Manchester United v Crystal Palace commentary from 15:00 in the company of John Acres and Jimmy Armfield. Once the rugby's out of the way, the game will then switch over to 5 live around 16:20.

Tune into 5 live sports extra via the BBC Sport website and app, the BBC iPlayer Radio app and on digital TV and radio.