Nicolas Jackson dropped verdict given amid Christopher Nkunku pressure for Liverpool vs Chelsea

Chelsea travel up to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday afternoon and Enzo Maresca is facing some tough decisions ahead of the big match.

The have a 100% record on the road thus far this season in the top-flight but face their most difficult test away from home yet at Anfield. will be forced to make at least two changes to his side with and both picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season in the draw with Nottingham Forest prior to the two-week international break.

and are expected to replace the Chelsea defensive duo, respectively, but there is one glaring area of the team that could also be altered. has started every Premier League game so far this season while has been named in the starting line-up under Maresca just once.

However, with eight goals this season for club and country already, Nkunku is making a real claim to lead the line against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. Chelsea supporters, though, believe Maresca should stick with Jackson to lead the line on Merseyside.

On a poll conducted on social media website X, Chelsea fans were asked who should start up front at Anfield. There were 477 votes - with 58.5% of supporters voting for Jackson to lead the line, while 40.7% chose Nkunku as the No.9 and 0.8% went with 'other'.

Jackson, too, has started the season very well for the Blues. The 23-year-old has continued to answer his critics in the first seven Premier League games of the campaign, averaging a goal involvement in each match. The Senegal international has scored four goals and assisted three thus far in the top-flight.

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It is a headache for Maresca with both of his strikers in form but one he welcomes. : "They're both doing fantastic. Not only because they score, but because they work off the ball. The way they sacrifice for the team - that is very important for them.

"This is a nice problem when you have two strikers that continue to score. It's nice you can decide which one and because they are in a good moment we can use them."

Pressed whether they could play alongside each other, Maresca replied: "It could be but the problem is the defensive balance. We can think to play with Nicolas, Christo, Joao [Felix], Cole Palmer, Noni [Madueke], fantastic! But when who is defending? Me and you?"

Whoever leads the line at Anfield, they will need to be in top form against a Liverpool defence that have conceded just two goals in the opening seven matches of the Premier League season. and Ibrahima Konate have both started the campaign superbly for the Reds under but Chelsea will be hoping to offer a threat the newly-appointed head coach has not had to contend with yet.