Chelsea travel to Anfield today to take on Liverpool as we return to Premier League action following back-to-back cup ties. We do so in good form, having won our last three league fixtures, booked our place in the Carabao Cup final and remain in FA Cup contention ahead of next week’s fourth round replay at Aston Villa.

In addition to the chance to extend that run of Premier League victories, this evening’s match will also see Raheem Sterling returning to the club where his professional career began, and Mauricio Pochettino was full of praise for the 29-year-old ahead of the game.

‘It’s always difficult to be at the top, as one of the best offensive players in the Premier League,’ said Pochettino. ‘He deserves full credit, he’s really professional and I think this season he’s doing really well for us.

‘Now he’s improving in his physical condition. When we arrived he struggled a little bit in some points but now he’s improving a lot and he’s doing really well. We are so happy with him in the way that he’s performing. He’s helping the team to perform and to win games.

‘Maybe he’s one of the most consistent players, but I don’t want to jinx it. He’s consistent and he’s always available which is a very good thing for us.’

The match at Anfield could also see Moises Caicedo playing against the team he turned down to join Chelsea in the summer, with Pochettino believing the fact two big clubs were interested in the Ecuador international shows the huge potential he has, even if he has been hampered in his efforts to show his full ability so far this season.

‘It’s not only Chelsea but Liverpool also believed that he can be one of the best midfielders in the future. But after that it’s about adaptation. He didn’t do a pre-season, he had some problems when he was travelling for international duty, there are so many things which delayed the adaptation to the team and to the club.

‘The circumstances maybe delayed it a little bit for him to perform, but I think there’s no doubt he has the profile to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. He was already showing what he’s capable of doing at Brighton.

‘If you ask me or any of the coaches here, always we are talking about improving. Always we demand more and more, not only from him but from all the players in the whole squad. He still can improve a lot.

‘The last few performances we feel like we are doing well as a team. We are happy in the way that we are working but I think still we are far away from the expectations that we created at the beginning of the season.’

Our head coach also provided further details on Nicolas Jackson’s chances of featuring against Liverpool, after his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal came to an end on Monday evening.

Mauricio confirmed that as of Tuesday it remained unknown if he would be back from the Ivory Coast in time to play a part, but explained why he will be included in the squad if it is possible for the striker to be involved against Liverpool.

‘We are seeing, it’s not sure, maybe it could happen, he could be there and involved in the game,’ added Pochettino. ‘If it gives us a one per cent better possibility to win the game, we will try. We are waiting for the confirmation, all I can say is maybe he is there.

‘Last week it was Ghana who went out and Inaki Williams arrived a few hours before, played in the second half and scored a goal to help Athletic to beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. So why can’t Jackson arrive and score the winning goal?’

‘Without Nico we miss the possibility that he provides. He runs a lot, which is massive and helps the team to press high, and also scores goals because he has a good record at the moment.

'I think we miss him a lot and so we are happy because we can recover him, but on the other side sad because they lost. But being selfish we are happy because maybe he can be with us at Liverpool.’