Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be forced into a couple of changes ahead of his side’s trip to Liverpool this weekend. The Italian has quickly settled on his first-choice starting XI in the Premier League, but he will be without suspended duo Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana at Anfield.
The defenders have both started all seven league games for the Blues so far this season, but their five yellow cards each will see two other stars brought into the frame for one of the trickiest games of the campaign.
Express Sport takes a look at how Maresca may therefore rejig his Chelsea ranks…
Chelsea’s Predicted XI vs Liverpool (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Sanchez
Robert Sanchez will need to be at his very best if he is to record his third clean sheet of the season on Sunday. The Spaniard has produced several smart stops in recent weeks and will need to ensure that his distribution improves against the high-pressing Liverpool frontline.
Defence: Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Veiga
With Fofana suspended, summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo is likely to make his second league start of the season. Axel Disasi is another alternative role in centre-back, and both could form a new-look centre-back partnership if Maresca opts to deploy Levi Colwill at left-back.
However, a drastic change in central defence feels unlikely, especially as Renato Veiga has performed with credit in the UEFA Conference League and could relish the challenge of being tasked with keeping Mohamed Salah under wraps. Reece James is fit for the clash but Malo Gusto is preferred at this stage given that the skipper may need to be eased into the fold after his troubled times with injuries.
Midfield: Fernandez, Caicedo, Palmer
Chelsea’s midfield now picks itself, with Maresca committing to helping expensive stars Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez flourish as a partnership. Liverpool were admirers of both players ahead of their respective moves to Blues, even tabling a £111million bid for Caicedo, and the duo will be keen to impress their ex-admirers on Sunday.
Cole Palmer is the first name on the Blues’ team sheet as a No.10 as he continues to assert himself as one of the best in the business, with Romeo Lavia and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall being forced to bide their time as rotational options.
Forwards: Madueke, Jackson, Sancho
Although Christopher Nkunku impressed in this fixture last season, Nicolas Jackson remains central to Maresca’s system with his height, power and unselfish runs in behind. The Frenchman may therefore be likelier to find more joy out wide.
However, Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho are both thriving at present and are expected to start against Liverpool. The English duo have provided the pace and energy that Maresca has demanded from his forwards, stretching the pitch to allow Palmer plenty of space centrally to flourish.