Chelsea Boss Confirms Key Duo Face Late Fitness Tests Ahead Of Liverpool Clash

Chelsea will look to kick-start their flagging season when they entertain Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, boss Jose Mourinho has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference and he’s offered a team news and injury update to Chelseafc.com.

The Blues manager revealed that Diego Costa and Pedro Rodriguez face late fitness tests but he’s confident the duo will be available for selection tomorrow.

Predro hasn’t feature for Chelsea since the win over Aston Villa two weeks ago while Costa was forced off early-on during the Capital One Cup loss against Stoke on Tuesday night after picking up a rib injury.

The attackers will undergo late fitness tests but Mourinho says he’s hopeful they’ll be passed fit to face the Merseysiders. He’s quoted as saying by the clubs official website:

‘We are going to wait [on Costa and Pedro],’ reported Mourinho, before confirming the pair would have a fitness test in the morning.

‘I am a little hopeful, if not I wouldn’t take them to the hotel and go for a last test.’

Jose: 'Courtois and Ivanovic are out. Pedro and Diego we are going to wait on, the others are fine.' #CFC

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 30, 2015

If Costa is ruled out it would be a major blow for Chelsea as although he hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders so far this season, he’s still easily their best striker and Mourinho would have to call upon Radamel Falcao or Loic Remy to deputise up front if he fails his fitness test.

In other news, Thibaut Courtois continues his recovery from knee surgery so Asmir Begovic will start in goal once again while defender Branislav Ivanovic remains out with a hamstring injury.

Check out the latest Liverpool team news here

Chelsea go into the weekend action sitting 15th in the Premier League table following last weeks defeat to West Ham so Mourinho will be desperate to pick up all three points and push up the table towards the top four.