Confirmed Chelsea v Liverpool lineups emerge as Virgil van Dijk absence explained

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Chelsea starting lineup: Kepa; Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella; James, Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic, Chilwell; Joao Felix, Havertz.

Chelsea substitutes: Mendy, Badiashile, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Madueke, Mudryk, Pulisic, Sterling.

Liverpool starting lineup: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Nunez, Firmino, Jota.

Liverpool substitutes: Kelleher, Milner, Salah, Gakpo, Robertson, Carvalho, Arthur, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold.

Chelsea and Liverpool return to action tonight as they meet in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues play their first game since sacking manager Graham Potter on Sunday.

Bruno Saltor takes charge tonight and will be looking for a big win over the Reds.

Chelsea go with Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal behind a back three of Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella.

Reece James and Ben Chilwell are the wing backs with Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic in midfield.

Joao Felix and Kai Havertz lead the line in attack as Mykhailo Mudryk drops to the bench.

The Ukrainian is joined by Edouard Mendy, Benoit Badiashile, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Noni Madueke, Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool were beaten 4-1 at Manchester City on Saturday and are still struggling to put together a consistent run of results.

Jurgen Klopp has Alisson in goal tonight with Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate at centre back.

That means Virgil van Dijk misses out, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting that Van Dijk is ill and hasn’t even travelled to London.

Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas come in as the full backs tonight with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones all starting in midfield.

Former Chelsea attacker Mohamed Salah is on the bench with Klopp picking a front three of Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.

Caoimhin Kelleher, James Miner, Cody Gakpo, Andrew Robertson, Fabio Carvalho, Arthur Melo, Nat Phillps and Trent Alexander-Arnold feature on the bench alongside Salah.