Chelsea will arrive at Anfield with an interim manager, without a league win from their last six, and with up to six players missing after two sickening head clashes.
Chelsea succumbed to their sixth defeat in a row against Nottingham Forest on Monday, though they did end their wait for a Premier League goal after going 542 minutes without one.
The result means they cannot finish inside the top five, and they are left to hope Aston Villa win the Europa League and see the top six qualify for the Champions League.
They would still need to win their remaining games to move up the table, and they could arrive at Anfield with up to six players missing.
Two will likely be due to concussion protocols after sickening head blows against Forest, which first saw 18-year-old debutant Jesse Derry stretchered off after being knocked unconscious.
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Derry’s front-on contact with Forest defender Zach Abbott saw him taken to hospital as the first half continued, with a later update confirming he was “conscious and talking.”
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was next to take a blow to the head as he and Morgan Gibbs-White clashed in pursuit of the ball in the second half.
Both players were forced off and later showed off their stitched wounds – it isn’t pretty!
Sanchez was not subbed off under concussion protocols, but he will have to undergo checks in the lead-up to the trip to Anfield under the FA’s ‘return to play guidelines’.
If he shows concussion symptoms, Chelsea will turn to goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who has started only two league games this season as their second-choice stopper.
Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, both missed the defeat to Forest due to knocks, and have yet to be cleared for a return against Liverpool.
Estevao and Jamie Gittens are already ruled out of the clash, taking Chelsea‘s possible absentee list to six.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 13, 2023: Chelsea's Reece James during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Chelsea did welcome back Reece James against Forest after his latest injury, while Levi Colwill marked his return after a long absence with a torn ACL, with both likely to be in the squad on Saturday.
Liverpool, meanwhile, hope to have Alexander Isak and Alisson available for the 12.30pm (BST) kickoff, but their fitness will be assessed with respective groin and hamstring issues.
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