Chelsea are set to face a challenging match against Liverpool in the Premier League this afternoon, with several key players likely to be absent. The Blues are currently struggling in their league campaign, having lost six consecutive games and scoring only once during that run. While they have an FA Cup final to look forward to next weekend, their current form is raising concerns about their season.
During Monday’s defeat against Nottingham Forest, Robert Sanchez was involved in a serious collision with Morgan Gibbs-White, resulting in both players requiring stitches. As a result, Sanchez will not be available for today’s game. Additionally, Jesse Derry, who was also involved in a head-to-head clash, will be missing as well.
The team’s injury woes continue to grow, with Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto expected to sit out due to injuries. Estevao’s season has come to an end after a serious hamstring injury, and Jamie Gittens is also sidelined, leaving Calum McFarlane with limited options on the wings.
However, there are some positive signs for Chelsea. Reece James and Levi Colwill have been training this week. Colwill played the second half of the match against Forest and also featured for the Under-21s in April, showing signs of recovery from his ACL injury.
On the other hand, Liverpool is hoping for a return from Alexander Isak, who missed the previous match against Manchester United. The Sweden international returned to training on Thursday, and manager Arne Slot is optimistic about his potential involvement in the game. Giorgi Mamardashvili also rejoined training this week and is competing for a spot in goal, with Alisson Becker still out.
Mohamed Salah is yet to return to training after dealing with a hamstring issue and is expected to miss the match again. Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate were absent from training earlier in the week but have since returned to the squad.
Predicted Lineups
For Chelsea, the absence of fit wingers may lead Calum McFarlane to rely on Enzo Fernandez to play in a more advanced role. Joao Pedro could also drop deeper if Liam Delap is chosen to start up front. Despite recent injuries, Colwill is eager to regain full fitness and could benefit from a starting role today at Anfield, which would help prepare him for the upcoming FA Cup final against City.
Liverpool, on the other hand, could benefit from Isak’s availability, providing a focal point in attack. However, Hugo Ekitike remains a long-term absentee.
Match Details
The match between Liverpool and Chelsea will kick off at 12:30 pm today (Saturday, 9 May) at Anfield. Fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming available through the HBO Max app.
