11 players could miss Chelsea vs Liverpool as Enzo Maresca facing injury crisis

Chelsea face what is arguably their toughest game of the season so far this weekend against Liverpool. And they take on the reigning Premier League champions in the grips of an injury crisis.

Boss Enzo Maresca has a host of players already ruled out for the game, with a reshuffle potentially on the cards ahead of this weekend’s game. Long-term absentees Dario Essugo, Liam Delap and Levi Colwill all remain ruled out.

They are joined on the sidelines by star forward Cole Palmer, whose groin injury is expected to see him out until after the upcoming international break. And while there are some Chelsea players who are anticipated to return soon, this weekend’s game could come too soon.

Defender Tosin Adarabioyo has a calf injury, while Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos is likely to be ruled out for another few weeks. The defensive crisis extends elsewhere too.

Frenchman Wesley Fofana is not expected to return this weekend as he goes through the concussion protocols. Trevoh Chalobah is also ineligible to play after being sent off against Brighton last weekend.

Finally, winger Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended. And speaking ahead of this weekend’s game, boss Enzo Maresca admitted that his side were feeling the pinch of their injury woes.

"Very difficult, very difficult, very hard, very difficult," said Maresca. "Again, because the ones that they play, there is a big risk that they can get injured because they are the ones that are playing a lot.

"For instance, we lost Andrey Santos against Brighton, who will be out until after the international break. We have seven or eight players out, unfortunately for us in this moment.

"So it is difficult because also we struggled to repeat the same XI, but it is what it is. We need to adapt and try to win games. That is why it was so important tonight to win and also was the other day important, but unfortunately we did not win. Now we focus on Saturday."

And while Chelsea are struggling, there has been some positive news from Liverpool. Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa are fit to play, albeit goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been ruled out, having been injured against Galatasaray.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot said: "Alisson is not part of the squad tomorrow and won't travel to Brazil as well with the national team. He will be out for Saturday.

"Hugo [Ekitike] is going to train again today and same can be said for Federico [Chiesa]. Alisson I would be surprised if he's there for first game after international break, but we don't know after that. Depends how quickly he can recover."

The Reds’ only long-term issue remains Italian defender Giovanni Leoni, who has undergone surgery for a serious knee issue.

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