Liverpool v Chelsea: Two stars RULED OUT of Premier League showdown

Liverpool face Chelsea in a huge Premier League showdown on October 20 against Chelsea in their first game following the international break. 

That game is the start of a gruelling run of fixtures for Arne Slot's side, who then play RB Leipzig in the Champions League, Arsenal in the league and a double-header against in-form Brighton.

There is no let up to the intensity thereafter, with the Reds then facing Bayer  Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Southampton, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Newcastle and Everton.

Read more: Liverpool now facing EXHAUSTING run of fixtures

Much will be discovered about Slot's side's capability to mount a title challenge, as well as a deep run in Europe, before that sequence of fixtures is out.

And the toll is already beginning to tell on the Liverpool squad with various injury issues cropping up. The likes of Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa have already missed matches due to injury while Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister were both hurt during the victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Slot will be hoping to avoid any more injury blows while his squad are with their respective national teams over the next fortnight with Enzo Maresca's side lying in wait on the other side of the break.

Cucurella and Fofana picking up bans

But Liverpool's hopes of beating Chelsea at Anfield were dealt a significant boost over the weekend with a pair of Blues' stars picking up their FIFTH yellow cards of the season, leading to them being ruled out of the Liverpool game.

Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana have been among Maresca's most consistent performers over the course of this season, helping the Stamford Bridge outfit to a top-four place after seven matches.

However, the defensive pair have struggled with disciplinary issues this term with Cucurella being booked in the side's second league game of the season against Wolves before acquiring bookings in each of his last four outings.

Chelsea could be without more stars

Fofana has been booked in his last FIVE Premier League matches running, meanwhile, with the defenders both being carded late on in the draw against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Furthermore, there could yet be retrospective action taken against striker Nicolas Jackson who appeared to slap Forest defender Morato during an unsavoury scuffle.

READ MORE: Premier League issue statement after Guehi VAR call

Maresca will also be concerned about the potential fitness issues around Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke, who both left the field in discomfort on Sunday.

It means that Chelsea, who have been in good form this season, could well be without a clutch of first-team stars for their Anfield showdown.