A TALL ORDER BUT ESSIEN'S UP TO IT

The Chelsea manager even went as far as to name the Liverpool team as “Peter Crouch plus 10 others”, but the prospect of coming up against the giant striker, who was so effective in Liverpool’s 2-0 Premiership victory over the Blues in January, does not daunt the more petite Essien.

“Crouch is the tallest player I have played against,” he said. “It is always difficult to play against people like him but I’m ready. In the league game the boss played me and Paulo Ferreira and it is always difficult to deal with Peter Crouch.

“We lost but I think this time it will be different with JT back.

“John Terry is more powerful and can deal with the balls in the air. I’ll cope with all the balls on the ground.

“I’m always ready to go anywhere I am asked to play. I have been doing that all season, so that is nothing new.”

It is always difficult to play against people like him but I’m ready

Essien