Chelsea have the chance to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just two points later.
Liverpool drew 2-2 with Fulham at Anfield on Saturday, meaning that Chelsea head into their game against Brentford tonight five points behind the league leaders.
However, Enzo Maresca could be without a few players for his side’s west London derby.
Joao Felix recently sustained an injury, while Romeo Lavia could also miss the match after picking up a small hamstring problem last weekend.
Romeo Lavia of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 08, 202...
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Romeo Lavia could miss Brentford clash
Lavia was taken off in Chelsea’s 4-3 win against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday as a precaution.
Maresca confirmed it was nothing major, but the midfielder has not been seen in training, suggesting that he could miss tonight’s London derby.
Chelsea training group:
Sanchez, Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernández, Caicedo, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson
Chilwell and Casadei joined with warm ups
No Lavia, Mudryk, Nkunku or Félix
— CarefreeYouth (@CarefreeYouth) December 14, 2024
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Lavia has had a few fitness problems this season and missed almost the whole of the previous campaign because of injury, so Maresca being cautious with him makes sense.
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Not having Lavia for the Brentford game, though, would undoubtedly be a blow for the Chelsea manager.
Romeo Lavia has become an important player for Chelsea
It has taken time because of all of his injury problems, but Lavia is now a key figure for the Blues.
In just nine Premier League games this season, Lavia has shown that he can bring a lot to this Chelsea team and make a difference for them in their own half.
The 20-year-old has proven to be extremely press resistant, collecting the ball near the edge of his box while under pressure before turning and getting Chelsea on the attack.
He only played 45 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Chelsea’s last Premier League outing, but Jamie Carragher was really impressed with his performance.
Carragher claimed that Lavia was “brilliant” in midfield and thinks he looks like a “real player”.
From what the Belgium international has shown this term, the Liverpool legend is not wrong. He will be a big miss for Chelsea tonight if he has not recovered from his hamstring injury.
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