Chelsea and Liverpool both have injury problems right now ahead of their Premier League clash this Saturday.
Chelsea are currently without several of their key players, including Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill.
Trevoh Chalobah will not be available for selection either following his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday.
Earlier this week, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp spoke about Chelsea’s injuries in an interview, suggesting that their participation at the Club World Cup may be a factor. However, the German’s old side also have their own fitness problems despite not competing at the tournament.
Photo by Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu via Getty ImagesHugo Ekitike could miss Chelsea game
Arne Slot has already confirmed that goalkeeper Alisson will miss the trip to Stamford Bridge, and it looks like Hugo Ekitike could join his teammate on the sidelines.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official club website and the rest of the English media following his side’s 1-0 loss to Galatasaray, Slot said: “He felt something when he had to reach for the ball. I think we all know which one it was when we were trying to force something.
“I think at that moment in time, on the other side there was someone on the floor as well, so the referee blew his whistle and I wasn’t even thinking we had an injury, but Hugo felt something.
“After the game, that’s always the difficult thing with these moments when players feel like it is not too bad, but when you just walk around it is something different than when you make a sprint or have to shoot on target. He said he couldn’t continue so we had to take him off. Let’s see how he is for the weekend.”
Ekitike could have actually been an injury concern for Chelsea after the Blues’ interest in him over the summer.
It was claimed that Chelsea held talks over signing Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt before his eventual move to Liverpool.
While Alisson and Ekitike may not be available for the trip to Chelsea, Alexander Isak should.
Photo by YAGIZ GURTUG/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ImagesWhy Chelsea need to be more worried about Alexander Isak
Really, the player Chelsea need to be concerned about is Isak. The Sweden international has a fantastic record against the Blues.
Via Transfermarkt
As long as Liverpool have both Isak and Mohamed Salah available, Reds supporters will be confident about a win, especially given how poor Chelsea have defended lately.
Again, Enzo Maresca will also be without his talisman Palmer. A Chelsea team missing Palmer could easily find it difficult to break down a defence that boasts Virgil van Dijk, the Premier League‘s top defender.
It is not looking good for Chelsea, but they always thrive when they are seen as the underdogs. Against Liverpool, the Conference League holders will be just that.