Scroll down to see how Chelsea could line up at Anfield later this month
TWO Chelsea stars will be banned for this month’s clash at Liverpool after becoming the first Premier League players to collect five yellow cards this season.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues travel to Anfield after the international break, with victory on Merseyside making Chelsea’s Italian manager just the fifth tactician to win his first five away games.
Marc Cucurella will miss Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool through suspensionCredit: Rex
Wesley Fofana has also picked up five yellow cards this season and will be absentCredit: Alamy
The match will be extremely tough for the visitors, with Liverpool top of the Premier League with six wins from seven.
However, Chelsea’s battle will be made all the harder after they lost two players for the crunch clash.
Key defenders Marc Cucurella and WesleyFofana have both been ruled out of the trip to Liverpool after each man picked up a booking against Nottingham Forest today.
The feisty game ended 1-1 as both sides missed several chances to win.
And late on at Stamford Bridge, a huge brawl broke out which saw Cucurella receive his fifth yellow card of the new season.
Fofana was booked earlier on for a clumsy challenge as he reached booking number five.
And the pair will now miss out on a place in Maresca’s team when Chelsea line up against their old rivals.
It means the Italian gaffer will have to tinker with his side, having only just settled on a consistent starting XI.
Candidates to replace centre-back Fofana include Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.
However, based on appearances this term, Tosin Adarabioyo is the most likely candidate to line up alongside Levi Colwill.
As for left-back Cucurella, Maresca could turn to misfit Ben Chilwell after the Englishman was reintroduced to the senior squad.
But it is much more likely that new signing Renato Veiga will get the nod after kicking off his Chelsea career with a goal in Thursday’s 4-2 win against Gent.
Maresca previously warned his Premier League XI that things can change very fast, with other talented players desperate to break into the side.
And after the disappointing draw with Forest, plus an international break coming up, it could be the perfect excuse for a few more changes.
Romeo Lavia is fit again after another injury lay-off and could come in for the underwhelming Enzo Fernandez.
While Pedro Neto is hoping to take advantage of Noni Madueke’s frustrating moments in the final third.
And Christopher Nkunku may finally get the nod ahead of the inconsistent Nicolas Jackson.
