Antonio Conte says Liverpool will face a very different Chelsea to the team which lost at home to the Reds earlier in the season.
They looked a long way short of title challengers when they were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool in September and then 3-0 at Arsenal the following weekend.
But Chelsea then went on a 13-match winning run, racing to the top of the Premier League.
Asked ahead of Tuesday’s trip to face them at Anfield if he believes Liverpool have evolved during the season, Blues boss Conte declared: “Honestly I think we are a different team, not Liverpool.
“We have grown a lot. After the game against Liverpool I said we faced a really great team and only through work can we improve.
“I think that happened. After that game against Liverpool and then Arsenal we improved a lot and so did our confidence.
“For this reason, we are now top of the table. It’s incredible.
“It’s not easy to have defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal and then find the strength to win 13 games in a row, but it happened.”
A win at Anfield could extend Chelsea’s eight-point lead at the top and would put them 13 points clear of fourth placed Liverpool.
“It’s important but it doesn’t finish the league,” Conte said.
“For us it’s a tough test against a really good team. I’m sure it will be a really tough game.”