Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has played down speculation regarding the future of Antonio Rudiger.

The centre-back was not in the 23-man squad for their game against Liverpool.

The Blues lost the game against Liverpool 2-0, with centre-back Andreas Christensen sent off late in the first half.

Rudiger was once seen as the number one centre-half at the club, but has fallen down the pecking order after struggling in the second half of last season.

The German's absence from the loss to Liverpool sparked speculation he could be sold this summer.

However, Lampard insisted he made his selection based on who impressed him at training.

"We have five centre-halves at the club and I can't pick a squad that has three of them on the bench," Lampard told reporters after the Liverpool loss.

"That is the way it is, I have to pick a squad via training and situations and that was the selection today."