Chelsea prepare to face Liverpool in the Premier League in what promises to be a huge match. And there is no respite for Blues manager Enzo Maresca, as although his team has been on a great run, he will do this without four important men for the Anfield showdown due to injuries and suspensions.
Recent Form Of The Blues
Chelsea has been climbing steadily after a disturbing start to the season. After being thrashed 2-0 by Pep Guardiola‘s Manchester City on opening day, Enzo Maresca’s team responded with six consecutive matches unbeaten. The run has catapulted them to fourth place in the Premier League table, now four points behind the title favorites-Liverpool. Of course, Chelsea will be without a few of their top players for the visit of Anfield.
The Missing Key Players
The Blues are missing some big names in this match against the Anfield side. Stamford’s highly-rated pair of Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana have been suspended for receiving yellow cards. Both the star defenders received yellow cards during Chelsea’s recent 1-1 draw, which came against Nottingham Forest. It marked the fifth yellow card of the season for both, meaning they miss this clash. Their absence will create a void in Chelsea’s defense. A void that will prove to be a huge advantage for Liverpool’s lightning-fast attack.
Chelsea also has injury concerns: midfielder Omari Kellyman, a new signing from Aston Villa, is still not seen in a Chelsea shirt having contracted a hamstring injury and hasn’t gotten the chance to make his debut. There is doubt over Carney Chukwuemeka’s fitness after being absent for the last couple of matches due to illness.
A Strong Start Of The Season By Liverpool
Conversely, Liverpool has had a glowing start for the season with the new manager Arne Slot. So far, they have won all the games except one. And are top in the league table of the Premier League. The kind of high-intensity play deployed by the new coach means the Reds are looking to win every game play. Their strong run coupled with home advantage makes them the likely favorites to take down Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Liverpool is not without their issues either. Some of its players have been fighting for fitness on the playing field. And the coach, Arne Slot, has to wait for updates on their fitness. Overall, though, it’s a better position for Liverpool compared to Chelsea in terms of depth and form in the squad.
Challenges For Chelsea At Anfield
Chelsea have a crucial visit to Anfield in the middle of this season. Maresca will already be without several important players. So, the manager needs some serious renovation or replacement after the losses of Cucurella and Fofana. The midfielders at Chelsea will have to be versatile with Chukwuemeka probably staying out of the match.
Enzo Maresca has coached balanced games, using the suitable side of his game. But against a Liverpool team that thrives on high pressing and fast transitions, Chelsea might have to be more wary. They’ll need to be reasonably tight defensively so as not to be overrun with players like Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.
Possible Players To Start For Chelsea
Even taking into account the suspensions and injuries, Maresca may have to rely on the rotation of his squad. For the defense, Reece James and Ben Chilwell will most likely form crucial defensive blocks for the team. In midfield, Enzo Maresca might use a more defensive setup to try and shatter the Liverpool play, with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. While upfront, Chelsea will go all out for Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson.
Conclusion
This is going to be one of the major tests for the Blues in their path to the Premier League title. Four of their key players are missing, and with Liverpool’s recent performance, Enzo Maresca’s side are going to have to dig very deep to take something from the red at Anfield. Again, Cucurella, Fofana, Kellyman, and Chukwuemeka will miss the game. Still, considering the recent showings, they have got the quality to hold things together. Well, Liverpool has been in fine form this season, and rightly so. But football is so completely unpredictable that this present Chelsea might just surprise everyone.
A trusted source on WalkOn.comA trusted source on ChelseaNews.com
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