Liverpool v Chelsea team news: Tomas Kalas makes his first Chelsea start in 'weakened' team, Daniel Sturridge is on the bench for Liverpool

The Czech defender makes only his third Chelsea appearance

Chelsea’s 20-year-old defender Tomas Kalas makes his Premier League debut for the top of the table clash with Liverpool on Sunday with Daniel Sturridge only fit enough for a place on the bench for the Reds against his former team.

In the "weakened" Chelsea side that manager Jose Mourinho threatened, Mark Schwarzer starts in place of Petr Cech who picked up an injury in the Champions League in midweek.

Mohamed Salah, Andre Schurrle and Demba Ba are the three attacking threats for the Blues, who have to avoid defeat if they are to keep any hopes of winning the league alive.

For the home side, Brendan Rodgers names an unchanged side to the team that beat Norwich 3-2 last Sunday.

Follow our live blog of the match here

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Skrtel, Sakho, Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez.

Subs: Jones, Kolo Toure, Agger, Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Sturridge, Cissokho

Chelsea: Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Kalas, Cole; Lampard (c), Mikel, Matic; Salah, Ba, Schurrle.

Subs: Hilario, Ake, Cahill, Van Ginkel, Baker, Willian, Torres

Referee: Martin Atkinson