Unwell Special One rotates his squad as he keeps one eye on next week’s Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid with weakened line-up for Anfield clash.
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Jose Mourinho has stuck to his word and made significant changes to his Chelsea team for this afternoon’s Premier League clash at leaders Liverpool.
The Special One, who has been feeling unwell recently and decided to travel north alone to avoid passing his illness on to any of his players, has made seven changes from the team that started Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.
Youngster Tomas Kalas makes his league debut for the Blues, partnering Branislav Ivanovic in central defence.
The 20-year-old, who has made just two substitute appearances in cup competitions for Chelsea, will be tasked with marking Luis Suarez.
Although Kalas has never before featured for Chelsea in the English top flight, he has made over 60 starts in the Dutch league for Vitesse Arnhem and also has one senior international cap for the Czech Republic.
Mourinho has given rare starts to Mohamed Salah and Demba Ba too, while 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Baker is among the substitutes.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have named an unchanged starting XI following last weekend’s 3-2 win at Norwich City.
Daniel Sturridge, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, is on the bench.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan; Gerrard, Allen, Lucas; Coutinho, Sterling; Suarez.
Subs: Jones, Toure, Agger, Cissokho, Alberto, Aspas, Sturridge.
Chelsea: Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Kalas, Cole; Lampard, Mikel, Matic; Salah, Ba, Schurrle.
Subs: Hilario, Ake, Cahill, Van Ginkel, Baker, Willian, Torres.
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