Eight Chelsea stars set to miss Liverpool clash through injury | OneFootball

Chelsea v Liverpool: Team News and Injury Updates

Liverpool head into a high-stakes Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge with concerns over key absentees and late fitness checks dominating the team news. Chelsea are also facing a long injury list, meaning both Arne Slot and Enzo Maresca must adapt their plans ahead of Saturday’s encounter.

Liverpool squad concerns

Arne Slot’s side arrive in London two points clear at the top of the table, but back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray have dented momentum. The reigning champions are set to be without Alisson Becker, who left the midweek Champions League game in Istanbul with an injury setback.

“That depends also on how fast a recovery goes. So, Saturday it’s clear, he’s not going to play for Brazil, and I would be surprised if he would be there in the first game after the international break. But from there on, sometimes things can go a bit faster or a bit slower. It’s always difficult to say the amount of days and weeks, but for the upcoming games he will not be part of us or the Brazil team,” explained Slot.

Photo: IMAGO

Hugo Ekitike, who was forced off against Galatasaray in the 68th minute, is being closely monitored. Federico Chiesa, absent in midweek due to a minor complaint, is also being assessed. Slot offered cautious optimism on both:

“Hugo is going to train today again and let’s see where he is, and the same can be said for Federico. We have to wait and see after the session where exactly they are.”

There is no such short-term hope for Giovanni Leoni, who remains sidelined with an ACL injury sustained against Southampton, leaving Liverpool short of defensive cover.

Chelsea injury worries

Maresca’s Chelsea have their own selection headaches. The Italian coach revealed he could be without “seven or eight players” for the meeting with Liverpool, including suspended defender Trevoh Chalobah and the influential Cole Palmer.

Among the confirmed absentees are Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Wesley Fofana and Andrey Santos. Despite the growing list of injuries, Maresca insisted he will continue to place faith in the club’s younger players.

“I think it’s a fact that I really trust the young players, not just the young players we have signed, but the young players from the academy. We gave games last season to Josh Acheampong ahead of senior players who were on the bench. That shows I really trust young players. The same thing happened with Ty [George]. I really trust all the players we have and at the moment we have four or five defenders out, so we will try to adapt and find the right solutions for tomorrow’s game,” Maresca told reporters.

Recent form and last outings

Chelsea secured a narrow 1-0 win over Benfica earlier this week, thanks to a resilient display built on energy and organisation. Their line-up included Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile and Garnacho.

Liverpool fell 1-0 away to Galatasaray in the Champions League, with Alisson, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, Kerkez and Gakpo among those who featured. The result added pressure on Slot’s side as they seek a response in the league.

With injuries shaping both squads, Saturday’s clash at Stamford Bridge promises to be as much about resilience and squad depth as it is about tactical execution.