Team News: Ruben Loftus-Cheek handed first Chelsea start against Liverpool

Jose Mourinho has handed a first senior start to highly-rated midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek for today's Premier League clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

The youngster starts alongside John Obi Mikel in midfield for the hosts, who go into the match as reigning champions for the first time in five years.

Mourinho has made five changes in total to the side that sealed the title against Crystal Palace last weekend, with Loic Remy, Kurt Zouma and Filipe Luis also coming into the team.

Didier Drogba, Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic, Juan Cuadrado and Cesar Azpilicueta all drop to the bench as a result, but PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard continues his record of starting every league match this season.

Liverpool name an unchanged side to the one that beat Queens Park Rangers last time out, with match-winner Steven Gerrard captaining the side.

Rickie Lambert continues up front, with Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho - making his 100th appearance for the club - in support for the Reds, who realistically need a win to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Filipe Luis; Mikel, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Remy Subs: Beeney, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ake, Matic, Cuadrado, Drogba

Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Can; Gerrard, Coutinho, Henderson; Lallana, Sterling; Lambert Subs: Ward, Toure, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Ibe, Sinclair

Find out what the Sports Mole Sofa team had to say about the match ahead of kickoff:

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