Chelsea are at risk of losing two key players for an upcoming trip to Liverpool due to a Premier League rule.
After an eventful summer where Chelsea spent around £220 million on new signings and offloaded 38 player, the Blues are quietly progressing under new boss Enzo Maresca and sit fourth in the Premier League with 13 points.
Their only loss was against champions Manchester City on the opening weekend.
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Chelsea host Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge this weekend but face a huge test immediately after the international break when they travel to Anfield to play league leaders Liverpool.
And there is a slight cause for concern as they could have a pair of starters unavailable for selection.
Both Marc Cucurella or Wesley Fofana are one yellow card away from being hit with a suspension in the Premier League.
Along with Joelinton, Sasu Lukic and Sam Morsy, they have been cautioned four times and a fifth against Forest will result in a one-game ban for the visit to Merseyside on 20 October.
Cucurella and Fofana will therefore have to behave themselves against Forest, who are ninth in the league under Nuno Espirito Santo and beat Liverpool away from home.
The one-game ban happens if a player accrues five bookings in the first 19 games of the season.
The cautions do not apply to the Carabao Cup or FA Cup and picking up 10 yellows in the first 32 games means a two-game ban.
Chelsea beat Gent 4-2 in the Conference League last time out without Cucurella and Fofana and Maresca is happy with how his team are playing.
Speaking in his press conference, he said: "We are performing not only in attack but defensively very well. We are happy.
"I need to repeat always the same: For sure, we can do many, many things better - we can attack better and defend better."
Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Liverpool
Josh Lawless