Chance to impress: Federico Chiesa looks in line for more opportunities after Liverpool clinched the title last weekend
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Liverpool expect to have Conor Bradley back in contention for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea.
The right-back missed last week’s thumping 5-1 comeback win over Tottenham at Anfield that clinched the title, having sustained a knock in training.
Bradley had only made three appearances since returning from a hamstring injury suffered in the draw at Aston Villa in February, with Trent Alexander-Arnold now back fit and having made his first start against Spurs since recovering from a knee issue.
However, the Northern Ireland international has quickly shaken off the problem and Liverpool boss Arne Slot expects him to form part of the travelling squad at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
“He will train with us today, so that’s the first start and let’s see how he does,” the Dutchman said of Bradley on Friday.
“We expect him to be available. I don’t know if that means that he is available to start, but if all goes well today and tomorrow he will probably be in the squad, yeah.”
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With the title secured with four games left to play, Slot is set to rotate his Liverpool side in their remaining matches and hand chances to other players who are keen to prove they belong at the club moving forward.
Harvey Elliott celebrates scoring a late winning goal for Liverpool against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League
Arne Slot addressed Harvey Elliott’s uncertain Liverpool future before the trip to face Chelsea
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Chief among that number are popular midfielder Harvey Elliott and little-used summer signing Federico Chiesa, both of whom supporters are eager to see given opportunities to state their case to remain at Anfield beyond the end of the next transfer window.
"My lineups will be different to what we've had the last 10 months, (we) won't change everyone but there will be some rotation. Not to say we will lose, we have a lot of trust in those (players)," Slot said.
"I think some of the players deserved to play earlier because they have trained so well and are good enough, but I mainly chose the same players so I see where they are looking ahead to next season a bit, but also because they deserve to play this season."
Alisson should remain in goal ahead of Caoimhin Kelleher against Chelsea, while Kostas Tsimikas and Jarell Quansah will be pushing for involvement in defence in addition to Bradley, who will likely be on the bench.
Wataru Endo, Elliott and Curtis Jones are all options to move into midfield, while Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez will compete to come into the frontline.
If Bradley makes the matchday squad in west London, it will leave fellow defender Joe Gomez as Liverpool’s only absentee as he continues to recover from hamstring surgery.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Elliott, Salah, Jones, Chiesa, Jota
Doubt: Bradley
Injured: Gomez
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
How to watch: Sky Sports