Liverpool vs Chelsea: Team news

Cucurella and Fofana have been ever-present in the Blues’ Premier League backline so far this season and Maresca has been asked how he will try to compensate for their enforced absences.

The Italian replied: “Yes, that’s no problem. I’ve said since we started that I’m very happy with the squad, I’m very happy with the players we’re using.

“Since we started we have tried to split the minutes a little between all the competitions we have. So we have two suspended players who cannot play and we will find other players who can play.”

“Cool [Ben Chilwell] is one of our players. Unfortunately, apart from yesterday, he has been sick for the last three or four days so he has not had any sessions and we will see how he is today and tomorrow.”

On the challenge of facing Liverpool, Maresca remarked: “They are doing fantastically. Very good players, very good manager, very good club and I think they are doing a fantastic job.

“But Liverpool have been there for many years so keep it going and I think that’s something very important for them.”

Last game

Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool (October 5): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Gakpo, Jota.

Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest (October 6): Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson.