How Chelsea could line up against Liverpool

Thomas Tuchel is expected to make do without COVID-positive pair Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but both men would struggle to force their way into this Chelsea team at present.

Thiago Silva continues to watch on from the bench after his Copa America exploits, but the rearguard of Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger ought to remain unchanged.

Reece James produced a man-of-the-match performance against Arsenal last week and will endeavour to produce the goods once again here, while Marcos Alonso should keep Ben Chilwell out of the team for now.

N'Golo Kante was fit enough for a bench appearance at the Emirates and is surely in line to displace Mateo Kovacic alongside Jorginho, while Hakim Ziyech has also recovered from a shoulder problem but is unlikely to start.

Competition for attacking places in Tuchel's XI was rife before the arrival of £97.5m man Romelu Lukaku, but Kai Havertz and Mason Mount - who scored the winner in this fixture last season - started against Arsenal and should retain their spots at Anfield.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kante, Alonso; Mount, Havertz; Lukaku