Chelsea vs Liverpool lineups: Rudiger and Van Dijk fit to start with Keita benched

The big news for Liverpool is that Virgil van Dijk starts following a rib injury, partnering Joe Gomez at the back. Liverpool have conceded just 0.6 goals per game in the 20 league matches that the Dutchman has started since signing for the club in January, winning 13 times.

Elsewhere both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georgina Wijnaldum return to the side, and the latter has had an even more profound affect on results than his aforementioned compatriot.

In the 66 league matches that the midfielder has started for the Reds since arriving in 2016 they have averaged 2.15 points per game, while that figure drops to a modest 1.69 in the 16 matches that Wijnaldum has not started for the club. He gets the nod alongside James Milner and captain Jordan Henderson, with Naby Keita on the bench once more.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have also been boosted by the return to fitness of Antonio Ruddier, who has had a similarly positive impact on results since joining the Blues last summer. The German international has started 31 league games, in which the team has averaged 2.19 points per game.

Not only have Chelsea picked up significantly fewer in his absence (1.38 per game over 13 matches) but they have conceded almost twice as frequently (1.46 per game up from 0.74 per game).

Elsewhere the likes of Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah are both back in their respective lineups having been rested from kick-off in the meeting between these sides in midweek, in which the former proved to be the match-winner with a fine solo effort from the bench.