Essien the only absentee for Chelsea

Andre Villas-Boas was today expecting everyone but Michael Essien to be fit for Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday.

Daniel Sturridge was set to shake off a knock picked up yesterday that caused him to miss training this morning, while fellow striker Didier Drogba has recovered from the arm surgery he underwent while suspended prior to the international break.

Goalkeeper Hilario is back from a bout of flu, while Essien is on course to return from knee surgery at the turn of the year.

Provisional squad: Cech, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Luiz, Mikel, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Malouda, Meireles, McEachran, Torres, Drogba, Kalou, Sturridge, Anelka, Lukaku, Turnbull, Hilario.