Chelsea injury, suspension list and return dates for Liverpool: Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos updates

Chelsea are back in action on Saturday evening when they square off against Liverpool in a blockbuster Premier League showdown.

Enzo Maresca's side have suffered back-to-back defeats in the top flight to leave them in eighth position in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

However, the Blues were able to get back to winning ways on Tuesday night as they battled their way to a 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at Chelsea's injury and suspension list ahead of facing the Merseyside giants, opponents that have lost successive matches to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray.

Cole Palmer

Status: Out

Type of injury: Groin

Possible return date: October 18 (vs. Nottingham Forest)

Maresca has already revealed that Cole Palmer will be absent for this fixture, a consequence of a lingering groin issue that Chelsea hope requires rest rather than surgery.

Liam Delap

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Liam Delap has already been ruled out until December with the hamstring injury that he sustained at the end of August.

Andrey Santos

Status: Out

Type of injury: Unknown

Return date: October 18 (vs. Nottingham Forest)

Andrey Santos suffered some kind of issue during the Brighton defeat and subsequently missed the Benfica game. Maresca revealed after the fixture on Tuesday that the Brazil international had already been ruled out of the Liverpool showdown.

Romeo Lavia

Status: Available

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date: October 4 (vs. Liverpool)

Having remained as an unused substitute against Benfica earlier this week, the perception will be that Romeo Lavia is being wrapped in cotton wool despite his substitute appearance against Brighton. Maresca has since confirmed that Lavia is available to play.

Levi Colwill

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Levil Colwill had surgery on a serious knee injury in early August and will not come back into contention until the closing weeks of the season at the very earliest.

Dario Essugo

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Dario Essugo suffered a thigh injury during international duty with Portugal Under-21s in September and will not be back in contention until the turn of the year.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Status: Out

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date: October 18 (vs. Nottingham Forest)

Tosin Adarabioyo has been sidelined since prior to the Lincoln City EFL Cup tie, Maresca already revealing that the centre-back will be absent until after the international break.

Wesley Fofana

Status: Out

Type of injury: Concussion

Possible return date: October 18 (vs. Nottingham Forest)

Wesley Fofana has missed the last two matches due to serving protocols for a concussion suffered against Lincoln City and the defender remains absent for this game.

CHELSEA'S SUSPENSION LIST

Chelsea will have to make do without the services of Trevoh Chalobah after his dismissal against Brighton. However, Joao Pedro is available with his Champions League red card in midweek only counting for that competition.