Chelsea's third choice goalkeeper Hilario made his debut for the club in tonight's Champions League match against Barcelona, because of head injuries sustained by Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini in Saturday's Premiership win at Reading.
Yves Ma-Kalambay was the substitute goalkeeper for the Blues, who recalled fit again England left-back Ashley Cole and French midfielder Claude Makelele for the group A clash at Stamford Bridge.
Former Chelsea hero Eidur Gudjohnsen returned to the club for the first time since he left in the summer - taking his place in a Barcelona line-up which also contained Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were without Steven Gerrard with a hamstring injury against Bordeaux and boss Rafael Benitez decided not to risk Mohamed Sissoko and Dirk Kuyt from the start.
Midfielder Sissoko and striker Kuyt, who travelled to France with slim hopes of starting, were on the bench along with young reserve Lee Peltier.
It left Liverpool with Luis Garcia and Mark Gonzalez on the flanks, Boudewijn Zenden in central midfield and the only fit strikers in Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch up front.
The Group C game in the Stade Chaban-Delmas was set to dictate whether Liverpool would have a comfortable ride into the next stage or whether it was going to be hard going right to the final match in Istanbul against Galatasaray.
Liverpool's first away win of the season would make life so much more comfortable for Benitez, whose side is suffering international fatigue, loss of confidence and a seemingly collective failure of senior players to find consistent form.
Chelsea: Hilario, Boulahrouz, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Makelele, Essien, Shevchenko, Drogba. Subs: Makaba-Makalamby, Joe Cole, Geremi, Robben, Bridge, Paulo Ferreira, Kalou.
Barcelona: Valdes, Marquez, Puyol, Zambrotta, Van Bronckhorst, Messi, Deco, Xavi, Edmilson, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho. Subs: Jorquera, Motta, Giuly, Thuram, Saviola, Oleguer, Iniesta.
Bordeaux: Rame, Jurietti, Henrique, Jemmali, Wendell, Alonso, Mavuba, Menegazzo, Laslandes, Micoud, Darcheville. Subs: Valverde, Perea, Faubert, Ducasse, Enakarhire, Marange, Chamakh.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Zenden, Gonzalez, Crouch, Bellamy. Subs: Dudek, Pennant, Kuyt, Sissoko, Warnock, Paletta, Peltier.