Chelsea Starting XI vs Liverpool: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Chelsea’s Injury Woes Ahead of Liverpool Clash

Chelsea face another daunting Premier League challenge as they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool, with managerless Blues enduring a dreadful losing streak. The team will be without several key players, making this match even more crucial for interim manager Calum McFarlane.

Missing Players for Chelsea

Chelsea’s squad for Saturday’s 12:30pm kick-off is badly depleted. Robert Sanchez and Jesse Derry will both miss out, and wingers Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are also expected to be sidelined. Sanchez, who was forced off in the second half of Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, is still undergoing concussion protocols after a head injury. His replacement, Filip Jorgensen, is now the likely starter in goal for Chelsea.

“Rob [Sanchez] is also not going to be available after the injury that he sustained in the Nottingham Forest game,” McFarlane confirmed. As for Neto and Garnacho, McFarlane expressed doubts about their availability: “Neto and Garnacho are carrying knocks, so it’s looking unlikely that they are going to be available [against Liverpool].” With academy star Derry unavailable for the remainder of the season after a head clash against Forest, McFarlane is left with few options.

Tactical Adjustments for Chelsea

With so many players absent, Chelsea may need to adapt their tactics significantly. There are no fit and available wingers in the squad, forcing McFarlane to consider Joao Pedro in an unfamiliar left-sided role. Enzo Fernandez will likely operate in an attacking midfield position, while Cole Palmer should line up on the right. This could leave Liam Delap to lead the line as Chelsea look for a much-needed win.

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The absence of wingers, compounded by Estevao and Jamie Gittens’ injuries, means that McFarlane might not have many alternatives. It’s likely that Joao Pedro will be deployed as an auxiliary winger once again.

Reece James’ Potential Return

In brighter news for Chelsea, captain Reece James could make his first start in over six weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury. He returned to the bench in the Forest loss, and McFarlane will have to decide whether to risk him in the starting XI. If selected, James could replace Malo Gusto at right-back, but there are concerns about rushing him back into action too soon.

Defensive and Midfield Setup

Defensively, McFarlane will have to rely on Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill to hold the fort against Liverpool’s potent attack. Colwill, who made a return from an ACL injury, could be key to adding pace to Chelsea’s backline. In midfield, Romeo Lavia may once again partner Moises Caicedo, with the duo expected to provide the defensive shield necessary to stifle Liverpool’s creative players.

With injuries and absences mounting, Chelsea’s task at Anfield is becoming more difficult by the day. However, the Blues will be hoping for a shock result as they face Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are still fighting for Champions League qualification.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Delap.

Doubts: Neto, GarnachoInjured: Sanchez, Estevao, Gittens, Derry

Time and Date: 12:30pm BST, Saturday May 9, 2026Venue: Anfield, LiverpoolHow to Watch: TNT Sports