Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is having a scan on Monday to determine the severity of the knee injury he sustained in the defeat at Liverpool .

The German international, who had to be substituted in the first half, told the Standard after the Liverpool loss that ‘I hope it is not too bad’.

However, he is very unlikely to be available for the Europa League quarter-final second leg at home to Slavia Prague on Thursday.

It means that club captain Gary Cahill is in line to get a shock recall to the matchday squad. The former England international defender has made just seven appearances this term, the last of which was against PAOK Salonika five months ago.

Defeat at Anfield saw Maurizio Sarri’s side miss the chance to retake third spot from Tottenham, who now hold a point and game advantage over the Blues, while victory for Arsenal at Watford will see Chelsea drop out of the top four altogether.