PREM: Liverpool v Chelsea preview

Liverpool v Chelsea preview

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane may get a place on the bench to face Chelsea after flying home from the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, the winger's late arrival on Monday meant he missed training and will have just one session just hours before the game for manager Jurgen Klopp to make a decision on his involvement.

Liverpool will have another session on Tuesday and manager Jurgen Klopp will have to decide then whether to include the player, at best as a substitute, who was distraught after missing the critical penalty in a 5-4 shoot-out quarter-final defeat to Cameroon.

"I don't know exactly (when he will be available)," said Klopp. "The club did an outstanding job to bring him back as soon as possible and he is now on his way.

"We thought it would be possible yesterday: we had a plane there but he was not allowed to go in the plane so we had to wait."

Liverpool's title chances are hanging by a thread as they host leaders Chelsea, with 10 points separating the sides.

Chelsea have lost just once in the last 16 Premier League games, and could potentially end the midweek programme with an 11-point gap on their rivals with just 15 games remaining.

Chelsea are to revert to their first-choice lineup for Tuesday night's clash. Head coach Antonio Conte made nine changes for last weekend's FA Cup win over Brentford and has no injury doubts for the trip to Anfield.

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and defender Branislav Ivanovic, who have both been linked with moves, may be late omissions from the squad if they leave before Tuesday night's transfer deadline.

Elsewhere for Liverpool, right-back Nathaniel Clyne is still absent with a rib injury and Ovie Ejaria is sidelined after rupturing ankle ligaments at the weekend, but midfielder Adam Lallana is set to play after sitting out the FA Cup defeat to Wolves.