Chelsea-Liverpool Preview

Chelsea travel to play Liverpool at Anfield Saturday as both sides return to domestic league action following midweek matches in Europe.

Liverpool (4-2-4) have struggled for consistency this season and dropped to seventh place in the Premier League table after being beaten 1-0 at Newcastle United last Saturday.

The Reds also lost 1-0 away to Real Madrid in a Champions League Group B match Tuesday. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers left several of his leading players - including captain Steven Gerrard - on the bench for the match at the Bernabeu, which ended with Madrid taking all three points thanks to Karim Benzema's first-half winner.

The Merseysiders battled hard in Madrid and produced a much better performance than when they were thrashed 3-0 at home by Carlo Ancelotti's team on Oct. 22.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had a good match in Madrid and was encouraged by Liverpool's display.

"I'm pleased with my own performance, but that always comes second because we want to win points and we want to win as a team," the Belgium international told Liverpool's official website. "Every time you lose you're disappointed. We were playing Real Madrid and we knew the results they have had at home and so we knew it would be a difficult game.

"There are still plenty of positives to take from the game and we've got another big game to look forward to at the weekend against Chelsea."

Chelsea (8-2-0) remain undefeated in England's top flight and are four points clear at the top of the table. The Blues recorded their eighth league victory of the campaign after beating west London neighbours Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

Jose Mourinho's side were not at their best against Rangers and after a superb first-half strike from Oscar, it took a late penalty converted by Eden Hazard to win it for the home team.

The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw at NK Maribor in a Champions League Group G game Wednesday. The Slovenian side, who were routed 6-0 at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 21, took a shock lead early in the second half through Agim Ibraimi before Nemanja Matic equalised for Chelsea on 73 minutes.

Hazard had the chance to win back-to-back matches from the penalty spot but saw his weak spot-kick saved by Maribor goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic five minutes from time. Despite the result, Chelsea still lead their group by three points ahead of second-place German side Schalke.

Matic insisted his team were expecting a tough match in Slovenia.

"We knew before the game that Maribor can play very well, and they drew with Sporting at home and with Schalke away," midfielder Matic told Chelsea's official website. "We know that we did not play very well but we are first in the group and before the game we had two more points than Schalke and now we have three.

"I am sure we will use our quality in the last two games and we will stay in the first position."

Chelsea did the league double over Liverpool last season, winning 2-1 at home and 2-0 at Anfield.

Liverpool have won only one of their last six matches against Chelsea in all competitions, losing three times and drawing twice going back to the 2012 FA Cup Final at Wembley, which the Blues won 2-1.

The all-time Premier League record between the sides is nearly dead even. Chelsea have 18 wins and Liverpool 17, while there have been nine draws in the 44 meetings.