Chelsea face a quick turnaround with Liverpool visiting Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening. The game will be the first fixture since Graham Potter was sacked with Bruno Saltor taking interim charge until a successor is appointed.
Potter was dismissed following Saturday's 2-0 Premier League loss to Aston Villa, leaving the Blues a dozen points behind the top four with ten games remaining. The 47 year-old managed to win only 12 of his 31 games in charge after replacing Thomas Tuchel in September.
It’s been reported that the Chelsea hierarchy are keen to act quickly in replacing Potter, with a clutch of names already being linked with the job at Stamford Bridge.
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Bruno's experience in managing at the top level is minimal so fans will be wary ahead of the Liverpool game. However, supporters will be desperate for a much-improved performance from the one put on display at the weekend.
It's possible that Bruno will make changes to the starting XI from the side that fell to defeat against Villa. The Spaniard revealed on Monday that there was no update on the team news front meaning he'll have most of the squad available.
After coming on as a 57th minute substitute at the weekend, N'Golo Kante could be in contention to start a game for the first time since August. The midfielder's return comes as a boost for Chelsea in a time of need for points and he may be selected to tighten up the midfield.
There could also be the return of Raheem Sterling. The ex-Liverpool man has had a spell on the treatment table after a brief fitness concern before the international break. Before the Villa game, Potter claimed the forward could make a return on Tuesday.
"Raheem is coming back," he said. "He will miss the game (vs Villa), think he's got more chance for Tuesday. He was close."
Wesley Fofana finds himself in the same situation as Sterling. After withdrawing from the France national team, the defender missed the Villa game with Potter insisting he's likely to return for Liverpool. Speaking last week, he said: "Wesley is going to miss the game because his hamstring is still a little bit tight, there's a chance for Tuesday with him."
Another player who could make a return to the team is Mason Mount. The midfielder hasn't played since the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham due to a lower abdomen strain and was an unused substitute in the loss to Aston Villa.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Edouard Mendy, two players on the fringes of the squad with knocks and injuries, have also been training though they were not in Potter's final matchday squad.
Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is yet to be seen in action since his concussion. The Spaniard has also had an injury keeping him out since then and remains a doubt. Thiago Silva is still out with his knee injury and the Blues will be hopeful he can recover before the first leg against Madrid.
Armando Broja is the only long-term absence and he won't play again this season.
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