Both teams will be without key players at Anfield on Sunday when Chelsea visit Liverpool.

The Blues are still rueing costly late yellow cards defenders Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana collected during their last match against Nottingham Forest. They are the first two players suspended for yellow card accumulation this season after receiving five cautions across the opening seven games of the campaign.

Ben Chilwell could have earned a shock recall to replace Cucurella, but the out-of-favour left-back was ill this week and did not train before Friday, as head coach Enzo Maresca shared during his pre-match press conference. Reece James, however, worked with Chelsea during the international break, but there are decisions to make about which match he will play this week.

Illness also affected Carney Chukwuemeka before the international break, and there is a degree of doubt about whether he will return this weekend. There is little doubt about Omari Kellyman, though, as the summer signing is still out after suffering another significant hamstring injury.

The same issue will keep Alisson out for the Reds, with Caoimhin Kelleher set to deputise over the next month. Harvey Elliott will also not face Chelsea despite returning to individual training during the international break as he continues recovering from his fractured foot.

Doubts also persist about their sole summer signing, Federico Chiesa, who has yet to play this month because of unspecified injury problems. Wataru Endo has also returned from international duty due to illness.

Alexis Mac Allister also missed one of Argentina's World Cup qualifiers last week, and Kostas Tsimikas barely played for Greece. Arne Slot acknowledged their absences during his press conference but did not sound overly concerned that their availability would be affected.