Axel Disasi will make a rare start for Chelsea, while Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella will miss out against Liverpool due to suspension. Chelsea will aim to continue the fantastic start to the 2024/25 season when they lock horns with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday evening. And Enzo Maresca has new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side's latest fixture.

Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are unavailable to take on Liverpool after picking up their fifth bookings of the Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest. The duo has joined Omari Kellyman on the sidelines, with the youngster still recovering from a hamstring injury.

However, Reece James is closing in on returning to action after stepping up his recovery from a hamstring injury that has frustrated him for a long time. Meanwhile, Maresca discussed James's progress during his pre-match press conference.

The Chelsea manager said, "No, finally we are all available. So we have all the squad available apart from the suspended ones. He is available. Finally he is back. He worked with us all the international break and it's good news, especially for him because the injury is not a good feeling. So finally he is back."

"It's always complicated when you get injuries, it is not easy. So you are always looking for a solution. A possible solution with Reece is the same solution we are using with Romeo [Lavia] and Wes [Fofana] in terms of using them just once a week and [playing] one game, because probably in this moment for different reasons, Reece's body cannot play twice a week."

While James should be in the matchday squad, he will unlikely start against Liverpool. With the Chelsea captain missing out, Malo Gusto is an automatic pick as the right-back, with the French defender joining Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, and Renato Veiga in the backline. The quartet will protect Robert Sanchez, who will take his usual spot between the sticks.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho the automatic picks on the flanks. Finally, Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for the away side against Liverpool on Sunday.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Veiga; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson