HD RudigerGetty

Chelsea Team news: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Liverpool

Chelsea's winning run came to an end last weekend in the league with a 0-0 draw away at West Ham and now they face the only team with a 100% record in Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Maurizio Sarri's side are boosted by their midweek cup win ahead of the match, where they travelled to Anfield to beat Jurgen Klopp's side 2-1.

Eden Hazard scored a stunning wonder-goal to overturn Liverpool's earlier strike, but Klopp was unhappy with Emerson Palmieri's equaliser, which he judged to be offside. The match will see the first-placed team take on the third-placed team, as Manchester City occupy second in the Premier League table.

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Chelsea injuries


Chelsea have a number of injury concerns ahead of Saturday's game. Pedro came off against PAOK last Thursday in the last minute of the Europa League game with a shoulder injury.

Antonio Rudiger was injured last week against West Ham and went straight down the tunnel to be replaced by Gary Cahill for the remainder of the match. The duo have been regular starters and Maurizio Sarri is hopeful that they will be back to play at Stamford Bridge.

Andreas Christensen became an additional concern after being substituted with an illness in the midweek Carabao Cup game. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has had an injection after also picking up a minor complaint in training, but he has been taking some part in the training sessions at Cobham.

Sarri hopes to have all four of Christensen, Rudiger, Pedro and Loftus-Cheek back, but he couldn't confirm it at his press conference on Friday afternoon.

Chelsea are thought to have no further injury concerns with Cesc Fabregas having recently made a comeback from a knee injury.

Pedro Chelsea 2018-19Getty Images

Chelsea suspensions


Chelsea have no suspensions to contend with ahead of kick off.


Chelsea potential starting line-up


Sarri will worry over the fitness of some of his players as the fixture list intensifies. Rudiger had been the only player who has played every minute of every game this season before being taken off injured against West Ham.

Willian has started the last three games so Pedro's return could freshen up the team ahead of a huge match at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues boss will play the best line up he has available to him, after rotating in the cup win at Anfield. This will mean the return of Eden Hazard, while the rested trio of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso will return to the starting line up. 

Jorginho travelled to Liverpool but he was an unused substitute, while David Luiz, N'Golo Kante and Hazard were only introduced from the bench in midweek. Chelsea predicted XI

Liverpool team news


Liverpool are sweating on Virgil van Dijk's fitness ahead of their trip to west London He was forced off the pitch with a rib pain in Liverpool’s 3-0 win against Southampton on Saturday evening.

Adam Lallana is expected to be out with a groin injury and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long term absentee after suffering a serious knee injury.


TV channel & kick-off time


The game kicks off at 5.30pm BST (12.30 ET) on Sunday and it will be shown on BT Sport in the United Kingdom.


Best Opta match facts


  • Chelsea haven’t won consecutive home Premier League games against Liverpool since a run of three victories between October 2004 and September 2006 under Jose Mourinho.

  • Liverpool are looking to win their first seven games to a top-flight campaign for only the second time, also doing so in 1990-91. The only side to win their opening seven games to a Premier League campaign were Chelsea in 2005-06 (first nine).

  • Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in his last six Premier League starts against Liverpool, including the winner in this exact fixture last season.

  • Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has scored four goals in his last two Premier League home games – as many as he had in his previous 17 at Stamford Bridge in the competition.

  • Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has won two of his three Premier League away games against Chelsea (67%) – the best win rate for visiting managers at Stamford Bridge in the competition (minimum 3 games).

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