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A definitive guide to the 5 biggest moments in the Chelsea v Liverpool rivalry

From ghost goals to slips and everything in between.

OVER THE PAST 15 years, Liverpool v Chelsea has sneakily become one of the most interesting rivalries in the Premier League.

The pair clash again on Saturday evening, with both needing a win to keep on the coat tails of Manchester City.

Ahead of it, we’ve dusted down the archives to pick out, and definitively rank, the five biggest moments in the rivalry.

Who knows, maybe tomorrow evening will add to it?

5. Win and you’re in – 2003

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Heading into the final game of the 2002/03 season, Chelsea, then nearly £100m in debt, were in fourth place. Hot on their heels were Liverpool, who needed a win to overtake them and earn the last Champions League spot.

However, Jesper Gronkjaer’s 26th-minute goal sealed the win before Roman Abramovich’s billions changed the club’s fortunes that summer.

4. Champions League Thriller – 2009

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If Liverpool fans thought that their 3-3 draw with Sevilla during the week was an emotional roller coaster, it had nothing on this eight-goal thriller in 2009.

3-1 down from the first leg, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead in the second but Chelsea fought back to go 3–2 ahead in the 76th minute.

Goals from Lucas and Dirk Kuyt in the 81st and 83rd minutes then put Liverpool 4–3 up and only one goal away from advancing before Frank Lampard’s last minute effort sealed the tie.

3. The Bite – 2013

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Luis Suarez was involved in everything in this April Premier League match-up.

Five minutes after setting Daniel Sturridge up for the game’s opening goal, his handball in his own box gifted Chelsea an equaliser.

Though the incident wasn’t spotted by officials at the time, Suarez later bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, a moment of madness that cost him a 10-game suspension from the English FA.

2. The Slip – 2014

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As they edged closer to a first Premier League title in 24 years, Liverpool knew their three-point lead over Manchester City meant they couldn’t afford any slips against Chelsea.

Sadly for Steven Gerrard and Liverpool fans around the world, one actual slip — when the Kop favourite miscontrolled the ball before falling over and allowing Demba Ba through on goal — was the beginning of the end of their title hopes.

1. The ‘Ghost’ Goal – 2005

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Twelve years and several clubs later, you get the impression that Jose Mourinho still has sleepless nights about Luis Garcia’s ‘ghost goal’ in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.

The Spaniard’s effort ultimately proved decisive in the tie before Liverpool went on to famously lift the trophy in a dramatic final the following month.

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