Chelsea lineup vs. Liverpool: Predicted XI for Premier League clash including Fofana, Cucurella replacements

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca must work around the absences of two key defenders for Sunday's Premier League blockbuster with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Blues played out an absorbing 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest before the international break, during which Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the campaign.

As a result, both men will be serving one-game bans at Anfield, but it is not all doom and gloom for the West London giants, whose captain Reece James is now back in training after a pre-season hamstring injury and is in contention to play here.

James will not be considered for a start so soon after his recovery, though, so Malo Gusto's spot in defence is safe for now, while Levi Colwill and Robert Sanchez - who made a few top saves in the Forest stalemate - will guard the goal too.

Unless Ben Chilwell is unexpectedly brought back in from the cold, Renato Veiga will likely hold the fort at left-back - where he will try to quell Mohamed Salah - while Axel Disasi may just pip Tosin Adarabioyo to the other centre-back spot.

However, Maresca should not be forced into any alterations further up the pitch, as Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and September's Premier League Player of the Month Cole Palmer occupy the central roles.

Palmer has created a staggering 11 chances for compatriot Noni Madueke, who in turn has fashioned four for the ex-Manchester City man, and the former should comprise an unchanged attacking trident with Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Veiga; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this clash