Anelka sidelined

Chelsea will be without striker Nicolas Anelka for both their Christmas games, against Birmingham on St Stephen's Day and Fulham on Monday.

Anelka misses out with a muscle problem while Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou look set to miss the game against Fulham to link up with the Ivory Coast ahead of the African Nations Cup next month.

Michael Essien (hamstring) and Jose Bosingwa (knee) have long-term injuries.

Provisional squad: Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Obi, Malouda, J Cole, Zhirkov, Drogba, Kalou, Kakuta, Bruma, Borini, Sturridge, Matic.