Chelsea v Liverpool preview: Jose Mourinho looks to strengthen stunning record against 'big sides'

Last month's 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Chelsea was in many ways typical Jose Mourinho.

His team was compact and hard to break down, and the end result was precisely what he and his team were after.

^{Jose Mourinho receives stick from Arsenal supporters during last month's draw}

Sound familiar? Well, almost exactly a year earlier, Chelsea pulled off a very similar trick in suffocating Liverpool and provoking a reckless display that allowed the Blues to pick up a 2-0 win.

But while those victories inevitably provoked debate about the aesthetic value of Mourinho's style, one thing that is undeniable is his staggering effectiveness against Chelsea's closest rivals.

_{It was a tetchy occasion the last time Chelsea and Liverpool met}

Since returning to the Premier League, the Portuguese manager is unbeaten against Arsenal, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.

In league matches against those clubs since the start of the 2013/14 season, Mourinho's record is: Played 15, won nine, drawn six, lost 0.

To provide context of just how good that is, Mourinho's Chelsea have an 11 point lead in the mini-league of matches between the 'big five' clubs during that period.

Mourinho was barely less effective in his first spell as Chelsea manager - he led the mini-league between the 'big four' as it was then, and suffered just two defeats in 19 matches.

In total that adds up to a record of two defeats in 34 matches against Chelsea's closest rivals, and an average points per game of 2.1.

So, how does Mourinho do it?

Something that makes Mourinho unique among managers of Europe's most successful clubs is that he is primarily reactive.

While purists like Arsene Wenger focus on their own strengths first and foremost, Mourinho admits he assesses his opponent's weaknesses and works out ways of exploiting them.

^{John Terry was equal to everything Arsenal could throw at him at the Emirates}

In disecting Chelsea's win against Liverpool at Anfield last season for instance, Mourinho explained how he analysed the way Brendan Rodgers' team was playing, and how they could be beaten.

“Liverpool wanted to play with Luis Suarez behind the defenders, Raheem Sterling the same thing, and Steven Gerrard in front of the defenders," Mourinho said. "So I go there, I play Frank Lampard on Stevie G, I play my block completely low. I win. And I’m criticised because I [am not allowed to] play that way. So I am the stupid one. I’m not fundamentalist. And I think some people in football are becoming a bit fundamentalist.”

He may not be a fundamentalist, but not all of Mourinho's successes against his rivals have been drab, tight affairs.

The 6-0 pulverising of Arsenal is an obvious example, but the 1-0 away win at Manchester City last season was equally, if not more, exhilirating. Chelsea only scored once on the night, but countered with verve and elan all evening and should have won by a more handsome margin.

Against Arsenal, Mourinho exploited the Gunners' weak left-hand side of Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski, while at City Mourinho let Eden Hazard, Willian and Samuel Eto'o hold their position high up the pitch to ensure they always had a threat on the break, which eventually prevented City's full-backs from bombing forward as they ordinarily would.

That win at City also saw Chelsea become the first opposition team in three-and-a-half years to keep a clean sheet at the Etihad, and ending great runs that Chelsea's rivals are on is one of the special one's specialities. The 2-0 win against Liverpool last season came when the Reds were on a run of 11 league wins, while Arsenal had won nine in a row in all competitions before last month's draw.

_{Arsene Wenger is one of many rivals to have failed to get the better of Mourinho}

Can Mourinho's run be ended?

An opposition manager might need to fire with fire and sit deep to draw Chelsea onto them, thus providing opportunities to spring them on the counter.

Diego Simeone managed to pull that tactic off in winning the Champions League semi-final for Atletico Madrid last season, but only once his side had levelled on the night and had an away goals lead.

Did you know Telegraph Sport has a Chelsea Facebook page?

Getting a lead to defend is clearly the key, but doing so is easier said than done - Chelsea have only fallen behind once in their last 11 matches against their 'big five' rivals.

What is certain is that Wenger, Louis van Gaal, Rodgers and Pellegrini must find a way of outsmarting Mourinho if they are to prevent Chelsea winning back to back titles for the first time since 2006.

If they can, then the Premier League title race might be a little less, dare I say it, boring.

When does Chelsea v Liverpool take place?

Chelsea host Liverpool at 4.00pm on Sunday 10 May 2015.

Betting odds

Chelsea - 11/10

Draw - 5/2

Liverpool - 29/10