FA Cup final 2012: Chelsea and Liverpool renew simmering rivalry of the 00s at Wembley Chelsea and Liverpool emerged from years of inconsistency to form the familar quartet which finished in the top positions in five out of the six seasons from 2003-04 onwards. One club was a product of its time, the other traversing a long road of redemption towards former glories. Chelsea had Abramovich's millions and the charismatic and calculating Jose Mourinho. Liverpool the tactical nous and organisational skills of Rafael Benitez that had been missing under the admittedly exciting stewardships of Gerard Houllier and Roy Evans. Liverpool had capital-h History. Chelsea were rich upstarts. The pair were never likely to get along. Their rivalry was ignited by ignited by Luis Garcia's phantom goal at Anfield in 2005 which sealed qualification for the Champions League final. Jose Mourinho is still whingeing about it. Liverpool went on to win the competition that year, with similar talk of fate and names being written on trophies to that which has been expressed about Chelsea this year. The following season the two were drawn together in the same Champions League group, playing out goalless draws both home and away. Chelsea had the edge in the league, winning 4-1 at Anfield in October with goals from Lampard, Duff, Joe Cole and Geremi At Stamford Bridge Chelsea won 2-0, but Liverpool knocked Mourinho's side out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage with Garcia Chelsea's tormentor again, scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 win. The games between the two began to get a reputation as guaranteed stinkers, with the two sides bringing out the worst in eachother. Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard seemed keen to prove that not only could they fail to function together in the same midfield at international level, they'd nullify one another when playing for opposing teams. It was largely the 2006/07 season which earned the fixture this reputation, with the five games between the pair finishing (home side first) 1-2, 1-0, 2-0, 1-0, and 1-0. Crucially Liverpool won the biggest game of those five on penalties, a Champions League semi-final, after Daniel Agger had scored to square the tie on aggregate: Chelsea exacted revenge the following season, overcoming Liverpool in the Carling Cup quarter finals and beating them in a dramatic Champions League semi-final which earned them a place in the all-English final against Manchester United in Moscow. Frank Lampard held his nerve to score a crucial penalty in extra time to swing the tie in his side's favour following a 1-1 draw at Anfield. The best ever game between the two sides took place nearly a year to the day later. Liverpool had won both of the side's Premier League encounters, but Chelsea took the first leg of a Champions League quarter final 3-1 at Anfield with two goals from Branislav Ivanovic: This set up a second leg in which Liverpool could not afford to rely on the defensive tactics that had served them (and, in fairness, Chelsea) so well in games against the other. The result was a gloriously unhinged football match which ended 4-4, Liverpool pulling ahead through a clever Aurelio free kick and a Xabi Alonso penalty before Chelsea hit back through Drogba, Alex and Lampard. Lucas would equalise and Kuyt put Liverpool ahead on the night, but Lampard drew Chelsea level late on in a game which ended the decade-long rivalry on a high. The old foes will meet again in suitably dramatic circumstances at Wembley on Saturday. Football has shifted. The Premier League's top four has become less predictable and will accommodate Manchester City for the forseeable future. Fernando Torres, once unplayable in a Liverpool shirt, has at times been a laughing stock at Chelsea. Both teams have changed managers numerous times with varying degrees of success. But some things never change, or at least take a very long time to change. Gerrard and Lampard will renew their rivalry in the Cup final. Fading lights now, but still capable of moments of genius. The nation hopes they channel the spirit of 2009 rather than 2007.