Chelsea vs Liverpool team news: Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic dropped by Jose Mourinho for crucial clash

Midfielders replaced by John Obi Mikel and Oscar

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas has proved the model professional since joining Chelsea (PA)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dropped two of his star men from last season's title winning campaign for the crucial match against Liverpool.

Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic, who formed a brilliant partnership in midfield last year, both drop to the bench in favour of John Obi Mikel and Ramires.

It is an eyebrow-rasing move from Mourinho, who is under huge pressure after picking up just 11 points from 10 Premier League matches in charge this season - the Blues are struggling in 15th position.

Diego Costa has been deemed fit enough to start despite playing just half an hour against Stoke, where he was hospitalised with a rib injury.

Elswhere the team is unchanged from the game against West Ham, with Kurt Zouma continuing at right-back.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, still searching for his first Premier League win makes just one change from the side that drew with Southampton last week, with Roberto Firmino coming in for Divock Origi.

TEAMS:

Chelsea: Begovic, Zouma, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Ramires, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Diego Costa.

Subs: Amelia, Baba, Matic, Fabregas, Kenedy, Falcao, Remy

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Milner, Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino

Subs: Bogdan, Lovren, Benteke, Allen, Ibe, Teixeira, Randall