Chelsea has been handed a major double injury boost before taking on Liverpool in the Premier League with Chelsea interim head coach Callum McFarlane set to bolster his options
14:56, 07 May 2026
Chelsea interim head coach Callum McFarlane.
Chelsea interim head coach Callum McFarlane.(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Chelsea interim head coach Callum McFarlane has confirmed a major double injury boost for his side ahead of taking on Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend.
Coming to Anfield in the early kick-off slot on Saturday, Chelsea has lost six Premier League games in a row and can no longer overtake the Reds in the standings. Level on points with Fulham and Everton, things are still very tight in the race for the European spots below the Champions League.
"We've got a few lads returning," McFarlane confirmed in his pre-match press conference. "Levi (Colwill) and Reece (James) have trained for a full week. It's looking promising. We've still got another session — they both trained fully today."
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Colwill and James were both in the squad against Nottingham Forest on Monday, with the former coming on as a substitute, but have shown no signs of needing extra time to recover despite only just being back from injuries.
Jesse Derry, the young winger who suffered a sickening injury on his first league start for Chelsea in that game, will miss out.
But McFarlane says the teenager is recovering well after the blow to his head in the clash at Stamford Bridge that led to the penalty that was missed by Cole Palmer.
"I spoke to Jesse's dad the night it happened and the family yesterday," McFarlane said. "It's positive. I don't have the insights to go into massive details but the early signs are positive.
Reece James of Chelsea battles for possession with Alexander Isak of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 04, 2025 in London, England.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool battles with Reece James.(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"As long as he's healthy, that's all that really matters. He's not going to be available between now and the end of the season."
Estevao and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens remain sidelined, while Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto and Robert Sanchez are managing knocks and are unlikely to be involved. Everyone else in the Chelsea squad is fit and available.
McFarlane described Liverpool as a "really good side" and said he expects a big challenge this weekend.
He also responded to suggestions from Reds legend Jamie Carragher earlier this week that the Stamford Bridge side is "broken".
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"Jamie's a pundit and I respect that," McFarlane said. "I can only speak on my experience with this club, and I think there are a lot of foundations for this team to be successful."
Liverpool.com says: The Reds simply have to get the three points over the line in this fixture. Chelsea looked like a genuine rival for the Champions League only a month ago, but have since fallen apart.
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This is a chance to show that the two clubs are heading in different directions, with Chelsea not far off the bottom half, and Liverpool hoping to bounce back from a defeat at Manchester United.