Luiz Felipe Scolari sounded an ominous warning to Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League rivals yesterday by claiming that his players have the potential to develop into the perfect team. The Chelsea manager even raised the prospect of emulating Arsène Wenger’s so-called “Invincibles” by going through the league campaign without losing a game – a feat achieved by Arsenal four years ago.

Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions this season with tomorrow’s top-of-the table clash against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge looming, although Scolari believes that the best is yet to come from his side. The Brazilian led his country to their fifth World Cup triumph in 2002 and has won two Copa Libertadores titles – the South American equivalent of the Champions League – with Grêmio and Palmeiras, but is adamant that this Chelsea team is the equal of any that he has managed before.

“We’re unbeaten so far and have the potential to become the perfect team,” Scolari said. “I’ve worked with lots of great teams over the years and it’s difficult to say which is better, but this team I’m coaching now is the team that in training give me more happiness than I’ve ever experienced in my life. I’ve seen in this team passion and professionalism.

“I think it’s one of the best teams I’ve worked with in my life. Passion and professionalism are so important. Sometimes you need to give more to the team because you love this team. Sometimes professionalism is more important. In the future, I think I’ll have more of both and it’s possible to go through the league season undefeated. In some games maybe we could play better than we’ve played up to now. It’s possible to play better, but I’m satisfied with what I’ve seen so far. We’re training every day for this. Every day we correct things that are wrong. Maybe after a month, a week or a year, the players will be better.”

Liverpool are the only other unbeaten team in the Premier League, although their goal difference is markedly inferior after only eight matches. Rafael BenÍtez has a better record than most managers against Chelsea in recent years, with five wins and six draws from 20 meetings, but Scolari is not ready even to contemplate the end of the club’s 86-match unbeaten home league run that stretches back over 4½ years.

“I don’t ever talk or think about losing a game,” Scolari said. “We’re not invincible, but we need to fight to make sure we don’t lose. This is what I want from my players, what I want them to give to me. And they do. They don’t accept that they might lose. That’s why Sunday will be a good game – a clash of the invincibles.

“The clubs have the same spirit and fight to the end. Liverpool have won more games than we have in the last few minutes. It’s important because we share first position with Liverpool. Whoever wins this game has an advantage for the next game, or maybe in the future. It should be a fantastic match.”

Scolari welcomed back Ashley Cole to full training yesterday after a thigh strain, although he remains without Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack. John Terry missed training for treatment on his back but is certain to play.

Ballack, the Germany captain, will not be permitted to return home to make peace with Joachim Löw, however, with Scolari insisting that Löw must come to London if he wants to talk to Ballack about criticism of him in an interview given by the player.

“If Löw wants to talk with him I invite the coach of the national team to come here and stay with us,” Scolari said. “But Ballack can’t travel now. He’s recovering and has treatment to undergo. To travel now is impossible.”