03.10.2004 - Kirkland starts for Reds at Chelsea

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Chris Kirkland will make his first competitive start under Rafael Benitez at Stamford Bridge today, as Liverpool look to repeat last year's success.

Kirkland has not played a competitive match since the 1-1 UEFA Cup draw with Marseille in March, though he has been selected ahead of Jerzy Dudek today after recovering from his most recent injury.

Djimi Traore, Harry Kewell, Djibril Cisse and Salif Diao also make the starting line up, with Benitez making a number of changes to the side which lost in Europe in midweek.

Chelsea are without Wayne Bridge and Arjen Robben through injury, but Jose Mourinho is able to name an unchanged line up from his team's 3-1 Champions League win over Porto on Wednesday.

Liverpool: Kirkland, Traore, Carragher, Hyypia, Josemi, Riise, Kewell, Alonso, Diao, Garcia, Cisse.

Subs: Dudek, Finnan, Warnock, Hamann, Baros.