MatchChelsea v Liverpool: Team news

Chiesa was not with the Reds squad that travelled to Istanbul for the Champions League game against Galatasaray earlier this week, as a result of a minor fitness complaint.

Fellow forward Ekitike started that match but had to go off in the 68th minute.

Both were on course to train with the team on Friday, though, with Arne Slot explaining their availability will be decided subsequently.

“Hugo is going to train today again and let’s see where he is, and the same can be said for Federico. We have to wait and see after the session where exactly they are,” the head coach said at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.

The reigning champions are set to be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker for a spell, however, after he was forced off in Turkiye on Tuesday night.

Slot said of the Brazilian’s timeline for a comeback: “That depends also on how fast a recovery goes. So, Saturday it’s clear, he’s not going to play for Brazil, and I would be surprised if he would be there in the first game after the international break.

“But from there on, sometimes things can go a bit faster or a bit slower. It’s always difficult to say the amount of days and weeks, but for the upcoming games he will not be part of us or the Brazil team.”

Giovanni Leoni is going to be a long-term absentee following the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered versus Southampton.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are set to be without ‘seven or eight players’ for the visit of Liverpool, explained head coach Enzo Maresca.

Among their absentees are the injured Cole Palmer and suspended Trevoh Chalobah.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Wesley Fofana and Andrey Santos have been sidelined for the Blues.

“I think it’s a fact that I really trust the young players, not just the young players we have signed, but the young players from the academy,” said Maresca when he spoke to the media on Friday.

“We gave games last season to Josh Acheampong ahead of senior players who were on the bench. That shows I really trust young players. The same thing happened with Ty [George].

“I really trust all the players we have and at the moment we have four or five defenders out, so we will try to adapt and find the right solutions for tomorrow’s game.”

Last match

Chelsea 1-0 Benfica (September 30): Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Neto, Buonanotte, Garnacho, George.

Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool (September 30): Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Wirtz, Frimpong, Gakpo, Ekitike.