PREM: Chelsea v Liverpool preview

Chelsea v Liverpool preview

Premier League leaders Liverpool face unbeaten Chelsea for the second time this week in an early-season clash between two title contenders at Stamford Bridge.

Jurgen Klopp's side have won their opening six top-flight fixtures this season, but lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening and travel to London ahead of a daunting week.

Liverpool will travel to Napoli in the Champions League in midweek before facing champions Manchester City next Sunday and Klopp is under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task facing his players.

He said: "Before we started it was clear that a game against Chelsea at Chelsea will not be a children's birthday or whatever, that's pretty intense.

"Then we go to Naples which is a tough place to go and then Man City coming. It's an interesting month, to be honest. But so far, so good and the boys are fully in it and ready to go."

Chelsea's 100% league record ended in a 0-0 draw with West Ham last Sunday and while victory on Saturday evening would move them above Liverpool, a defeat would see them fall five points behind their opponents.

Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool missed 'world-class' centre-back Virgil van Dijk in their midweek defeat to Chelsea.

Andreas Christensen should be fit after shaking off a stomach bug.

However, Antonio Rudiger, Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will all be given late fitness tests ahead of the Stamford Bridge encounter.

Rudiger (groin), Pedro (shoulder) and Loftus Cheek (shin) must still prove their fitness, but are all back in training.

Defender Virgil van Dijk is a doubt for Liverpool after picking up an injury against Southampton last weekend.

The Netherlands international has missed training all week and Klopp will make a late decision on whether he will be involved at Stamford Bridge.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum, however, are both available for selection after the pair returned to full training after missing the midweek cup defeat.