Premier League: Liverpool and Chelsea return to action

John Terry is expected to appear in Chelsea's first friendly

Michael Lintorn looks at Liverpool and Chelsea's pre-season preparations as they play their first friendlies...

Brondby v Liverpool
Wednesday, 17:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Brondby 4.94/1, Liverpool 1.784/5, The Draw 4.1n/a

Liverpool recently completed their fourth signing of a summer far more noteworthy for Luis Suarez's departure when confirming the 20 million capture of Benfica winger Lazar Markovic. His employers have won their league in four successive seasons, a run that Brendan Rodgers is 11.010/1 to maintain.

However, neither the 20-year-old Serbian nor fellow newcomers Emre Can, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert are in Denmark for Daniel Agger's Brondby homecoming, which is 1.784/5 to produce a Reds triumph. They are well supported, with 89% of the money in the match odds market staked on them.

Denmark's king of the 1990s didn't adapt to the 21st century as well as computers: nine years have passed since their last title and they haven't even finished in a podium position for three campaigns. They have a few familiar names though, including Johan Elmander, Thomas Kahlenberg and Martin Albrechtsen.

Wycombe v Chelsea
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on Chelsea TV

Match Odds: Wycombe 11.5n/a, Chelsea 1.3130/100, The Draw 6.25/1

After being reasonably quiet in Jose Mourinho's first pre-season back in charge, only adding Mark Schwarzer, Marco van Ginkel and Andre Schurrle to the senior squad before the late purchases of Willian and Samuel Eto'o, Chelsea have done some major business early this term.

Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa have already arrived, while a deal is in place for Atletico Madrid left back Felipe Luis subject to personal terms and a medical. Then again, if the time it took to get the long-mooted Costa move over the line is anything to go by, Luis could be a month away from joining.

Regardless, those eye-catching acquisitions have established the Blues as 3.02/1 Premier League title favourites, and they are even more convincing frontrunners to win their first friendly at Adams Park.

Team news is thin on the ground, with Chelsea's official site focussing their attention on transfer matters, but the newbies and World Cup participants won't be there. Despite that, they should still have the likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah available.