Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez controversially chose to rest key players, such as captain Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso for the match, as Liverpool's season had already begun with a Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa. Chelsea too were without a number of their key players through injury. This was the 11th meeting between the two sides over the past two years, and understandably the rivalry between the two had developed considerably as a result.