Jose Mourinho believes that Liverpool are good enough to win the Premier League this season.
The Chelsea manager welcomes Brendan Rodgers's side to Stamford Bridge on Sunday in what is a crunch game at the summit of the league.
Liverpool lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Boxing Day and have not won a league title since 1989-90, but Mourinho has said that there are a number of reasons why they are capable of changing that statistic.
"I think they can [win the Premier League], because they are good, because Brendan is good, because they have time to prepare the team tactically, because they are not involved in the heat of the knock-out situation in the Champions League or even Europa League," Sky Sports News quotes Mourinho as saying.
"These [Chelsea] players are going to play 60 matches. Liverpool will play 40 matches. It's a big difference. Quality, plus ambition, plus this advantage, so yes [they are contenders]."
Mourinho also believes that the Reds did "very well" without Luis Suarez at the start of the season when the striker was suspended.
"He didn't start the season, with suspension, and after that the numbers are fantastic," Mourinho added.
"When he came back, it was a big plus. But let's be fair: Liverpool did very well without him when he was suspended."
Chelsea against Liverpool is a 4pm kickoff.
Gary Peters
