Chelsea v Liverpool: Blues trio face fitness tests, Reds star a major doubt


Chelsea trio Pedro, Antonio Rudiger and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will all be given late fitness tests ahead of the Stamford Bridge encounter however.

Rudiger (groin), Pedro (shoulder) and Loftus Cheek (shin) must still prove their fitness, but are all back in training.

Andreas Christensen should be fit after shaking off a stomach bug.

Provisional squad: Kepa, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Fabregas, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Hazard, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Moses, Giroud, Zappacosta, Willian, Cahill, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Morata, Luiz, Emerson Palmieri, Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi, Bulka.

Virgil van Dijk is a major injury doubt for Liverpool.

The defender aggravated a rib problem in the Reds’ 3-0 victory over Southampton last week and has not trained with the first team since, so Dejan Lovren could start at the back at Stamford Bridge.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum have recovered from a knock and illness, respectively, for a game in which manager Jurgen Klopp will bring back his regulars after fielding a largely second string side in a Carabao Cup defeat to the Blues in midweek.

Provisional squad: Alisson, Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Clyne, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Fabinho, Shaqiri, Solanke, Sturridge.