SOCCER ANGLES:A once-sceptical public are being won over by the expansive style of Phil Scolari's side, writes Michael Walker

SO WHERE are we now in our relationship with Chelsea? It was all so straightforward for a while: we neutrals did not like them and they did not care that we did not like them. We didn't like their money and the way Roman Abramovich distorted the game with his, but then we had not been too keen on Ken Bates before that. We resented that Bates made a fortune from selling the club when it seemed close to meltdown.

The feeling was and is there was and is something very easy to dislike about Chelsea. Even though plenty enjoyed the pantomime element of Jose Mourinho, what about his football? What about that first FA Cup final back at Wembley? If part of Roman's rationale for removing Jose soon after was down to dullness, then bully for Roman.

He then went for Avram Grant, though, and Avram almost won the European Cup for his Russian boss, in Moscow of all places. But almost was not good enough and so in came Big Phil. Scolari talked a good game from the off, it was about making Chelsea "loved" through the ambition of their play.

Yeah, yeah, we muttered. But then, on the season's opening day, reports filtered back from Stamford Bridge that the defeat of Portsmouth was impressive for more than the margin of 4-0. There was something more expansive about them.

Scolari had made a difference.

This kind of premature assessment makes you worry. So you wait and see. But it seems to have been based on something true. Chelsea are different because they want to be different, and that could make us uncomfortable.

Sitting watching as they tore Middlesbrough apart last Saturday, the fragility of the hosts was the first fact sought to buffet the rising appreciation of Chelsea's simple, clean-and-brisk pass-and-move.

But it could only stand so long. Scolari is not rewriting the book or anything - and he did inherit a team a post away from winning the European Cup - but there was something about the joy in Frank Lampard as he celebrated Chelsea's fourth that made you think of release. New Chelsea might not be Arsenal, but they are not old Chelsea.

Long after the final whistle, Lampard and a few others were still on the pitch bathing in the noise of their travelling support. The smiles were everywhere and Lampard went on to talk of this being a watershed performance in terms of coherence and style. Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate noted how hard the Londoners worked.

Scolari then appeared upstairs in a cramped room to say he would take an ugly one-nil every time. Chelsea had just scored their 19th goal in his first eight Premier League games. In Mourinho's first eight, they scored eight (though it would be unfair on Mourinho not to note they both gained 20 points).

But perhaps Scolari really would take one-nils. In Portugal and Brazil he is part-defined by his pragmatism - certainly more so than romance - and, funnily enough, along came a one-nil on Wednesday against Roma.

It is tomorrow, though, when Liverpool go to Stamford Bridge, that we should be given a more serious gauge of the new Chelsea and whether it exists.

In drawing 1-1 with Manchester United a month ago, Chelsea displayed determination more than flair, but could have been winners had Nicolas Anelka not missed a sitter. They were far from brilliant, but there was an underlying desire there to win and to win well.

Liverpool, despite what the table says, are not as daunting as United. They are unbeaten and have accounted for United at Anfield, but too many of their victories so far have been flaky. Middlesbrough - them again - were on the end of one. Did Wigan deserve to lose last Saturday?

Liverpool may have players big on artistic merit, and any team with Steven Gerrard should be worth watching, but who would be surprised if it is Chelsea trying to break down their opponents?

It says something of the progression under Scolari, and of Rafael Benitez's tactics, that the sympathy of neutrals is already wavering when previously it was a no contest.

Unquestionably there is that wish to see a competitive Liverpool stay in the title race beyond Christmas this time - and further - and we are making judgments here after only 20 per cent of Premier League tests have been taken. But Chelsea are altering our perceptions and, as they move around the country picking off clubs, wider respect may come their way.

This matters to us because it so obviously matters to Chelsea. The stance may have been one of indifference to outside criticism, or more frequently hostility towards it, but applause can soften stances. It's all a bit more smiley and, as Scolari said at the start, they do want to be "loved".

Bearing in mind the Middlesbrough demolition was achieved without the following cast members - Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Petr Cech - the power of Abramovich's Chelsea provokes awe. The shock is that for the first time, even momentarily, we are prepared to look beyond the power of the money and admire the product. Whether we can ever love them is another matter.

One thing is almost certain: having had such confusing thoughts, tomorrow Chelsea will be narrow, dull and win 1-0.

At least then we can get back to where we were.

Versatile Houston's rich legacy

ART IS by no means this column's specialist subject, but if you are ever over in Edinburgh for a match and have the time, a short jaunt to the National Gallery of Modern Art is worth the effort. Some works of John Houston can be found there, and Houston's paintings will interest more than art fans.

Houston died last week and the art world lost a giant. Sometimes this was unrecognised, judging by the obituaries, though pleasingly they did not overlook Houston's sporting past. This massively talented man played outside right for Dundee United and Scotland under-21s and might have gone on from there to greater things but for a crippling knee injury.

Houston also rode at Musselburgh. He was some man.

Wearside holding its breath

IF WE can set aside Roy Keane for a moment, and that is not easy, this is one big day for Wearside.

That Sunderland have not beaten Newcastle United at home since 1980 had Keane talking of head-scratching this week, and when you think that in those 28 years Newcastle have lost at places like Southend, Swindon and Plymouth, it makes you wonder how they have not done so at Sunderland.

But this lunchtime there is something akin to confident dread by the Wear that Sunderland will overcome. Shay Given has said that Sunderland are favourites. That will not please Keane or anyone on Wearside.

But this is Sunderland's chance. They are stronger than they have been for years, Newcastle are weak, though Monday's 10-man draw against Manchester City revealed a level of fight that could earn them a draw today.

If so, to Sunderland it could feel like a defeat.