LONDON (AFP) - Avram Grant admits he can't wait to get John Terry and his African stars back in action because Chelsea's title challenge is in danger of running out of steam.

Grant's side looked weary during Sunday's goalless draw against Liverpool as two months without a host of key players finally started to take its toll.

The stalemate at Stamford Bridge left Chelsea five points behind leaders Arsenal, and that gap could increase to eight if the Gunners beat Blackburn on Monday.

After reeling off nine wins in a row, Chelsea have been forced to settle for draws against Portsmouth and now Liverpool in their last two games.

With John Terry only just back in training, Frank Lampard making his first appearance since December 26 on Sunday and Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou only expected back from the African Nations Cup this week, it has been a gruelling time for the rest of the Blues squad.

"Of course if we draw twice we are not happy but we are still in with a chance of the title," Grant said.

"I think there has been a big physical pressure on the players in the last month. It is a small group of players. Maybe they are a little bit tired because they play also with their national teams.

"But this is part of the game when you belong to a top club. You have a lot of games but they did a good job until now.

"We needed to put Shaun Wright-Phillips in the middle because we had so few options. Now I hope the players will come back from Africa in good shape.

"It is not easy, they played in a different temperature and everything. They will train with us on Monday or Tuesday."

Terry's return is a massive boost for Grant.

The England defender isn't expected to play for another three weeks but Grant admits he wouldn't be surprised if he was back in time for the League Cup final against Tottenham on February 24.

"He is a leader and we need him. He will be back in about three weeks. I think the cup final will be too soon but we will wait and see," said Grant.

While Chelsea remain in the hunt for all four major trophies, Liverpool are reduced to scrapping for fourth place in the league and hoping for success in the Champions League and FA Cup.

It is a sorry state of affairs for a team tipped to finally mount a sustained title challenge.

Off the field intrigue remains the backdrop to a season of turmoil at Anfield and Rafa Benitez has risked widening the rift with Liverpool's American owners by blaming them for his team's position.

Benitez believes their very open attempt to persuade Jurgen Klinsmann to take the manager's job proved a critical distraction. But even so he can have only himself to blame for creating a team lacking any cutting edge.

This was Liverpool's fourth draw in six league games and, with Fernando Torres out injured, Peter Crouch wasted several chances.

"Crouch had some chances, some good chances but the team showed character," Benitez said.

"Now we have two important competitions. We cannot change anything, just keep working hard and play as we did today. If we do that against other teams I'm sure we will win.

"We want to finish in the top four and need to win the next game."

Benitez will be desperate to get Torres back quickly and he added: "Maybe he can be available for the weekend against Barnsley. We have time. The physios are working with him. He could be OK."