Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho chose Didier Drogba ahead of Hernan Crespo in attack as the Londoners faced Liverpool in a re-run of last season's Champions League semi-final at rain-soaked Anfield.
Arjen Robben shook off the dead leg that threatened to prevent him from being named in Chelsea's starting line-up as Mourinho stuck to his usual 4-3-3 formation.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez made a number of changes from the side that drew with Birmingham at the weekend as they looked to end Chelsea's winning start to the season in this Group G clash.
Steve Finnan, Djimi Traore, Luis Garcia and Djibril Cisse are all named in the starting line-up with Boudewijn Zenden, Josemi, Stephen Warnock and Florent Sinama-Pongolle stepping down to the bench.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Hamann, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Crouch, Cisse. Subs: Carson, Riise, Josemi, Sinama Pongolle, Warnock, Zenden, Potter.
Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Duff, Drogba, Robben. Subs: Cudicini, Crespo, Joe Cole, Geremi, Gudjohnsen, Wright-Phillips, Huth.
Referee: Massimo De Santis (Italy)