Chelsea is unlikely to face punishment if José Mourinho fields a weakened side on Sunday against Liverpool. Chelsea is attempting to remain fit for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid.

Manchester City has a game in hand and could overtake Liverpool should they lose at Anfield.

Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are among those who are likely to feature against Liverpool.

Ramires has received a four-game ban for his swing at Sebastian Larsson three minutes before the interval, which went unspotted by the referee Mike Dean, to be violent conduct.

Chelsea is considering appealing the ban.

Barcelona has been given a 14-month transfer ban by FIFA for breaking rules on signing international players under 18.

They have also been fined 450,000 Swiss Francs (£305,000).

Barcelona is hoping to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Victor Valdes and had been linked to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

A FIFA investigation, centered on several players aged under 18 who were registered and played for the club between 2009 and 2013, found that Barcelona and the RFEF were guilty of a "serious" infringement of the rules in relation to 10 players.

"On the basis of this analysis, the committee concluded that 'the interest in protecting the appropriate and healthy development of a minor as a whole must prevail over purely sporting interests'," said a FIFA statement.

"This is a shattering piece of news for a club that had already endured a very difficult season off the pitch following allegations of tax evasion around the signing of Neymar," writes Andy West.

"The impact upon the team is also hugely significant. With veteran captain Carles Puyol and goalkeeper Victor Valdes leaving at the end of the season, the club had already announced their intention to splash out on top-class replacements. Now that seems impossible, which means the squad will be severely weakened next season.

"It is also yet another massive blow to Barca's previously much-respected global brand, which has taken a huge battering in the last few months and will be further tarnished by this latest development."