Fernando Torres to make Chelsea debut against Liverpool

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Ancelotti believes Chelsea have talent to close gap

Carlo Ancelotti said Chelsea's British record £50m signing Fernando Torres is likely to make his debut against former club Liverpool in the league on Sunday.

Spain striker Torres and fellow new signing David Luiz were ineligible to play in the 4-2 win at Sunderland.

"We have to test him tomorrow and the next day. If he has no problem, he can play," Blues boss Ancelotti stated.

"But I think he has no problem because he played the last game with Liverpool and played well."

Ancelotti added that he had no qualms about playing Torres alongside either Nicolas Anelka, who scored in the win against Sunderland, and Didier Drogba.

"I know very well that he is not a goalkeeper, he is not a defender, he is not a midfielder - he is a striker and he will play as a striker," Italian Ancelotti continued.

"He doesn't have a problem to play with Drogba or with another striker. Maybe we will have to play with two strikers together, but that's not a problem. It doesn't change a lot.

"Maybe with a diamond in midfield, our shape doesn't change too much."

Chelsea did not need Torres' potency in front of goal at the Stadium of Light although they only began to dominate in the second half after a frenetic and even opening 45 minutes.

Bruce disappointed by defensive lapses

Sunderland's Phil Bardsley opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Frank Lampard equalised from the spot.

Salomon Kalou put Chelsea in front but the teams were level again when Kieran Richardson drilled in a free-kick.

After the break John Terry made it 3-2 before the impressive Anelka tapped in to round off a superb display by the Blues.

However, Chelsea remain 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester United and Ancelotti admitted the gap will be difficult to close.

"It doesn't depend on us because if Manchester United continue their run, it's difficult to close the gap," he added.

Opposite number Steve Bruce was disappointed with the "elementary mistakes" his side made.

"We all know they are a fantastic team and they look like Chelsea again, don't they?," Black Cats boss Bruce said.

"The disappointing thing for me, for how well they played, was the bad goals we gave away: a bad penalty; a bad second goal; the third goal, we should be doing better; the fourth goal, we missed a challenge on the edge of the box.

"The one reason why we are sitting where we are sitting in the table at the moment is we haven't really made elementary mistakes like that."