Liverpool sit atop the Premier League table when fourth-placed Chelsea visit on Sunday.

Modern historians of the English game will know this is not a run-of-the-mill fixture, with both clubs' recent successes forcing them together in a number of classic showdowns over the last two decades.

It's hard to think of a pairing that has produced as many memorable moments as these two in recent times.

From outrageous goals, to managerial meltdowns and drama that goes on to define an era, Liverpool against Chelsea is often unmissable.

Here's 10 reminders as to why...

10. Lampard's Emotional Penalty

This list is full of funny moments and moments that could raise your temperature depending on your allegiance. Frank Lampard's goal on April 30, 2008 is neither of those.

Chelsea headed into the Champions League semi-final second leg needing a win at home to reach the Moscow final. Lampard's mother died just six days before the pivotal tie was to take place.

The English midfielder, whose leadership skills were often underrated during his playing days, bravely took part in the match.

Locked at 2-2 on aggregate, a foul on Michael Ballack gave Chelsea the perfect opportunity to put themselves up from the penalty spot in extra time; a role Lampard had filled in less emotional circumstances so many times.

He scored.

Lampard's celebration sticks in the mind. Once the ball hit the net, he ran off kissing the black armband that paid tribute to his mother. He then pointed to the sky before dropping to his knees in emotion.

Chelsea would go on to win the tie 4-3 on aggregate before losing to Manchester United in the final, another game in which Lampard scored.

9. Sturridge's Late Equaliser

From raw emotion, to nonchalant brilliance.

Daniel Sturridge's career dropped off early, so it's easy to forget how unbelievable he could be in a Liverpool shirt.

Even though things were winding down for him by October 2018, the left-footed striker was saving one more piece of magic to grab a draw from his former club.

One touch to control the ball, one touch to get it out of his feet and one touch to stroke it into the top corner. A fully stretched Kepa Arrizabalaga simply had no chance as Stamford Bridge fell silent.

8. Liverpool End Chelsea's Unbeaten Run

Ten years before Sturridge's stunning goal, Liverpool headed to west London with a seemingly herculean task: end Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten run across four years and eight months.

The Reds played excellently, taking an early lead through Xabi Alonso's deflected strike, which pinged off Jose Bosingwa and beyond the helpless Petr Čech. Chelsea struggled for clear cut chances, and really, Liverpool could have won by more than the 1-0 scoreline.

But the job was done.

With fortress Stamford Bridge felled, Liverpool rose to the top of the Premier League, eventually finishing three points ahead of Chelsea in second and four behind title-winners United.

7. Salah's Rocket Against Former Club

Some goals just have to be described as a 'thunderbolt'.

In April 2019, another former Chelsea man produced against his old employers as Mohamed Salah scored an absolute cracker to wrap up Liverpool's 2-0 win at Anfield.

The Egyptian ended a poor run of just one goal in 10 games in the best way possible, thrusting his side to the brink of the title.

While Manchester City would go on to win the Premier League by a single point, Salah's goal of the season contender underlined a power shift in the current era as Liverpool finished 25 points ahead of Chelsea.

6. Mourinho Wins First Chelsea Trophy

Just eight months after José Mourinho's arrival we were treated to a classic José moment. One that has perhaps subsided from memory with everything that has happened since, but a seminal example of what has made the Portuguese manager such a legendary personality.

Mourinho's first opportunity at silverware since taking over Chelsea came at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, with the Blues facing Liverpool in a fiercely contested League Cup final.

Within 45 seconds, John Arne Riise's powerful volley put Liverpool 1-0 up. Jerzy Dudek started in incredible form, foiling two pinpoint Chelsea chances as the tension grew.

Paulo Ferreira's innocuous cross then floated into the Liverpool box, and under little pressure, Steven Gerrard accidentally headed beyond his own keeper.

José, mocked by Liverpool fans throughout the game, turned to supporters and put a finger to his lips. Police reacted to the gesture and recommended he be sent off to halt any backlash from fans.

"I have to adapt to your culture," Mourinho said, later claiming he was shushing the press, per The Guardian. "For me it is unusual to be sent off by the police. I am happy I am not going to jail."

Chelsea went on to win Mourinho's first trophy at the club, triumphing 3-2 on a night that raised the heat on a rivalry that was about to go nuclear. And with it, Mourinho had truly arrived.

5. Hazard's Stunning League Cup Goal

Arguably the greatest goal ever scored in this fixture came at Anfield during the 2018 League Cup tie in which a soon-to-be-sold Eden Hazard reminded the world of his genius.

Liverpool had little reason to worry when Hazard picked the ball up on the right wing. Even when he broke into the box with two rapid changes of direction, the alarms wouldn't have been ringing too badly; there's no chance he'll score from there.

Except he did. Just wonderful. The dribbling, the nutmegs when he starts and finishes the move, the finish. World-class.

4. Chaos in 4-4 Draw

A night of intense drama, mistakes and one incredible goal. Alex's free kick could be described as a 'thunderbolt', but that was reserved for Salah in this article, so we'll go with 'howitzer' instead. A foot like a traction engine.

These two clubs have quite the storied history when it comes to Champions League matches. April 2009 was a key chapter, with Chelsea's 7-5 aggregate win sending them through to a semi-final clash with Barcelona that ended with Andres Iniesta's wonderful clincher in London.

But before that, Guus Hiddink's Chelsea had beaten Liverpool 3-1 on Merseyside. The return leg not only saw Alex wallop his free kick in from miles out, it saw chaos brought on by nerves, passion and fight.

First, Fábio Aurélio spotted Čech in no man's land from a free kick that looked like it could only be crossed. Then Alonso made it 3-3 on aggregate from the penalty spot. Pepe Reina then made a mistake of his own, failing to stop Didier Drogba's minimal touch from Nicolas Anelka's cross when he just needed to collect.

Lampard, Ballack and Alex then stood over the legendary free kick that really could only have been scored with the power the Brazilian put behind it.

It seemed like Lampard then took the match away from Liverpool with Chelsea's third of the night, but Lucas Leiva's nasty deflected shot quickly wrong-footed Čech and Dirk Kuyt's header brought the visitors back to within one. Lampard had the last say, though, hitting both posts before the ball trickled in to make it 4-4 on the night and push the Blues into the next round.

A breathless classic with a stunner of a goal and plenty of head-in-your-hands moments? That's what we want.

3. Suarez Bites Ivanovic

Luis Suárez is many things. An unbelievable goalscorer. A match-winner. A man who has bitten at least three opponents in his career.

Not content with a mouthful of Otman Bakkal during his time with Ajax, the Uruguayan forward sunk his teeth into Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during the 2-2 draw at Anfield in April 2013. Liverpool were 2-1 down at the time, with Suarez brilliantly assisting the Reds' first goal before giving away a penalty with a sloppy handball, which Hazard converted.

What happened next is where it got really weird.

At first, it looked like Ivanovic had lashed out and swung Suarez to the ground. However, replays showed Suarez grabbing the defender's arm before clamping down with his jaw. No VAR meant no red card - and Suarez would go on to head home a late equaliser against former Liverpool boss Rafa Benítez's side.

Suarez was banned 10 matches for the incident. Not to be turned off from eating during matches, it wasn't long before he was at it again, biting Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. A four-month suspension from all footballing activity followed.

Blockbuster, all the way.

2. Luis García's 'Ghost Goal'

Luis García's so-called 'ghost goal' in May 2005 is one of those moments that will follow the player forever. It was the winner that propelled Liverpool into their first Champions League final in 20 years and towards arguably the most famous triumph in the club's history.

Firstly, Čech absolutely clattered Milan Baroš in the box and may have been sent off if García hadn't rushed in to prod the ball home. Or at least prod the ball close to the line, which William Gallas looked to have cleared. The goal stood and after three-and-a-half minutes of the second leg, the tie was settled following the previous 0-0 draw.

The moment led to an all-time quote from Mourinho, who said, "It was a goal that came from the moon," per BBC Sport.

It also led to a Champions League final in which Liverpool's legend is now built upon. Even the mention of 'Istanbul' is enough to know what's being referenced in fine detail.

Sometimes, it's just meant to be. Liverpool's iconic comeback saw them win on penalties after being 3-0 down against a Milan side that was crammed with footballing gods. Without García's goal, it may have never happened.

1. The Slip

April 27, 2014. Possibly the worst match of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard's career. An unfortunate, split-second mishap that rival fans still use to mock the club who threw the Premier League title away when it looked all but secured.

Now, Gerrard failing to control a simple pass and falling over for Chelsea to win at Anfield is dramatic in itself, enough to spawn endless memes and songs reminding him of Demba Ba, who took advantage with the goal in Chelsea's 2-0 win. That's funny or heartbreaking enough depending on your standpoint.

What makes it so much more ridiculous, though, is that Gerrard was filmed in tears just two games before this after beating Manchester City. With the title in sight, he gathered the players together and shouted, 'We do not let this slip.'

Then, he LITERALLY slipped.

The defeat triggered a complete collapse for Liverpool, who gave up a 3-0 lead in the next game against Crystal Palace, conceding three goals in 11 minutes that were really worse than Gerrard stacking it.

Oscar-winning scripts don't get written with this kind of arcing storyline.