Beware the wounded animal. That was the message sent by Antonio Conte as his Chelsea juggernaut rolls into Anfield on Tuesday night to face a Liverpool side reeling from three home defeats in a row.

It was Liverpool who inflicted Conte’s first defeat as Chelsea manager in September, but the Italian’s side is now an almost unrecognisable team from back then, and with Arsenal coming to Stamford Bridge just four days later, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Chelsea could have the title in the bag by this time next week.

“Liverpool is a very tough game for us because their focus will be very high,” said Conte, whose side strolled to their 14th victory in 15 games when they swept aside Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

How that contrasts with Liverpool, who have fallen to Swansea, Southampton and Wolves at Anfield in the space of a week.

“When you play at Anfield it’s very difficult for teams,” Conte added. “After three defeats you are very angry, and we must know this. We have to play our football with good intensity and then we will see what happens.”