Sunday's Premier League meeting with Chelsea is of huge importance to Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.
In what has become somewhat of a must-win game for the Reds, neither side would benefit from a share of the spoils at Stamford Bridge as they chase Manchester City.
Liverpool have been dealt bad news ahead of this game with a further three players ruled out due to coronavirus, though Thomas Tuchel's side have problems of their own heading into this match.
Chelsea lost Andreas Christensen and Reece James to injury during their 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday evening and will be forced to field a makeshift backline against the Reds.
READ MORE: Behind the scenes of Liverpool transfers - shortlists, targets and Michael Edwards secrets
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola makes Man City injury claim and explains what he 'didn't expect' about Chelsea and Liverpool
Here is how the home side are likely to line up...
Edouard Mendy is set to start in goal for Chelsea before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, where he will be joined by Sadio Mane.
With both first-choice full-backs missing and Christensen a doubt, Tuchel is likely to call Trevoh Chalobah into the starting-eleven.
One positive for Chelsea, however, is that Thiago Silva has been pictured in training this afternoon and is therefore expected to return after missing Wednesday's draw with Brighton due to a thigh injury.
Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to be the player chosen to cover James at right wing-back, with Marcos Alonso deputising in the absence of Chilwell.
In midfield, N’Golo Kante will be eager to regain his starting spot after injuring his knee against Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
The French international was left on the bench against Brighton as a precaution before being deployed with 23 minutes remaining in the game. He has trained as normal this week and is the obvious partner for Jorginho in the middle of the pitch.
Romelu Lukaku will lead the attack for the hosts, unless Tuchel has plans of making an example of the Belgian striker following his controversial comments about the club in a recent interview.
Meanwhile Kai Havertz is line to make a first appearance in five games, having been stuck in isolation and deemed only fit enough for the bench against the Seagulls on Wednesday evening.
Timo Werner is in contention to start after returning to training on the back of his Covid-enforced absence, though this game could come too soon for the German.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Mendy, Silva, Chalobah, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Lukaku, Havertz
