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Fulham welcomed veteran defender Tim Ream back to the matchday squad for their semi-final showdown with Liverpool, although the 36-year-old was only an unused substitute after recovering from a calf issue, and the visitors remain without Adama Traore (thigh) for the time being.
Harrison Reed also stayed down after taking a whack to the side at Anfield on Wednesday, and Silva also revealed that the midfielder was not feeling 100% before the game began, so a recall for Tom Cairney would not be a shock.
Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Fode Ballo-Toure are all unavailable on account of their AFCON call-ups, but most of Silva's starters from Wednesday evening ought to be deployed from the first whistle again, unless jellied legs force the Fulham manager's hand.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez
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As well as Africa Cup of Nations representative Nicolas Jackson, a plethora of stricken Chelsea players will watch on from the sidelines this weekend, including Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring) and Romeo Lavia (thigh).
The Blues must also cope without the luckless Christopher Nkunku, who missed the loss to Boro with a fresh hip concern, while Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) and Benoit Badiashile (unspecified) have all resumed full training, and the former and latter are expected to be in the squad here.
Pochettino curiously opted against deploying Armando Broja at the tip of the attack at the Riverside, although the Argentine confirmed that he simply wanted to manage the Albanian's workload, and it would therefore not be a shock to see him regain his spot in the XI here.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Fernandez; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Broja
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