Chelsea boss Antonio Conte explains Alvaro Morata selection decision and highlights Salah threat

Alvaro Morata looks set to return to the Chelsea starting line-up for Saturday's (25 November) high-profile Premier League meeting with Liverpool, while Antonio Conte has warned of the threat that will be posed by former Blues winger Mohamed Salah at Anfield.

Morata has scored nine goals in 18 appearances across all competitions since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid in the summer, although, like Gary Cahill, Andreas Christensen and Tiemoue Bakayoko, he was rested for Wednesday night's 4-0 Champions League victory over Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag FK.

Chelsea instead deployed Eden Hazard as a false nine in Baku, ably supported by the duo of Willian and Pedro, with Morata introduced in relief of the Belgian for the final 25 minutes of a comfortable win secured 2,469 miles away from home.

Asked if he would be restored to the first XI against Liverpool at Anfield, Conte told reporters: "We have to make the best decision game-by-game, to find the best solutions for the team and to give the right rest to my players.

"Last time [in September], Morata played three games in a row [against Stoke City and Atletico Madrid] and, after 20 minutes against Manchester City, he was injured. I have to pay attention in all situations. Sometimes I take a risk but it's my job and I like to do this."

Saturday's heavyweight contest will pit Liverpool's Salah against Chelsea, for whom he made just 19 appearances during the second reign of Jose Mourinho following an £11m ($14.6m) switch from FC Basel in 2014 before spells in Serie A with Fiorentina and AS Roma.

The Egyptian international will be eager to prove a point against the club that barely afforded him a chance after making a truly electric start to his career on Merseyside and Conte is only too aware of the threat carried by Salah and indeed every member of Liverpool's potent attack.

"I know him very well, because he played in Italy for many years. Salah is a good player and is very dangerous. He's a technical player, but at the same time is very fast, very strong, very good in 1v1," Conte said.

"Also he's very good to finish. We must pay great attention, but not only to Salah, also to [Sadio] Mane, [Roberto] Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, [Daniel] Sturridge... Liverpool have great potential as a team."

The likes of Hazard, Cahill and Frank Lampard have all had their say on why it did not work out for Salah at Chelsea in recent days, although Conte refused to speculate on something that happened before his arrival in west London.

"I don't know. I think, I'm sure it happened in the past. In the past he was very young and I think now he developed a lot, this player," he added.

"I repeat: this is the past. If you ask me about the present, about last year, I like to answer you. In the past I think it's not right to give an answer."