Chelsea predicted line-up vs. Everton: Three changes expected with Fofana among injury doubtsplaceholder image
Chelsea predicted line-up vs. Everton: Three changes expected with Fofana among injury doubts | Getty Images
The latest Chelsea team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of the Blues' clash against Everton
Chelsea are back in Premier League action – and in search of what would be a first win in five games – when they take on an in-form Everton side at Stamford Bridge this Saturday afternoon.
The task of bouncing back from their midweek defeat against Atalanta will be complicated by the potential absence of several key players – including Wesley Fofana, who went down with an eye injury during that defeat in the Champions League, and Liam Delap, whose latest injury threatens to sideline him for some time. In total, Chelsea could be missing seven players this weekend.
In the build-up to this weekend’s match, we’ve collected all of the latest Chelsea team news and injury updates below, and predicted Enzo Maresca’s likely starting XI to face Everton.
Will Cole Palmer start against Everton?
Defender Wesley Fofana has had a torrid time with injuries since joining Chelsea and seems to have added another to his collection – the Frenchman appeared to take Gianluca Scamacca’s boot to the face 30 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute, and had to be replaced himself as a result.
“He had a problem with his eye,” Maresca told the media in the aftermath. “It’s quite bad. He’s struggling to see. Hopefully he can be available for Everton on Saturday.”
Pending further updates from Maresca during his pre-match press conference, which is scheduled for midday on Friday, it remains unclear whether Fofana will take part this weekend. There are no such concerns over key playmaker Cole Palmer, however, despite his absence from the matchday squad in midweek – Maresca has confirmed that he was being rested as part of his gradual return from recent groin and toe injuries. He is expected to be available to start against Everton.
How long is Liam Delap out for – and who else will miss out for Chelsea?
To make life even harder for Maresca, he will also have to make do without Liam Delap after he sustained his second serious injury of the season during the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth last weekend – The Athletic report that he is likely to be out for around four weeks with a shoulder problem, although Chelsea have yet to formally confirm that timeline.
They will also have to make do without Roméo Lavia, who is expected to return from a thigh injury in January, and Dário Essugo, although the Portuguese youngster is close to coming back from a thigh injury of his own which he sustained on international duty in October. Levi Colwill, who is out with a ruptured ACL, is the only other player known to be out through injury.
Chelsea will, however, also be without Moisés Caicedo, who is serving the last game of a three-match ban brought about by his red card against Arsenal, and Mykhaylo Mudryk, who remains suspended for alleged doping violations.
Predicted Chelsea starting line-up vs. Everton: Sánchez; Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Gusto; James, Fernández; Garnacho, Palmer, Neto; João Pedro.
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