Chelsea travel to Anfield at the weekend to take on Liverpool as the Blues look to end their poor run of form in the Premier League against the reigning champions
07:00, 08 May 2026
Cole Palmer
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Cole Palmer missed a penalty in Monday's defeat to Nottingham Forest(Image: Robin Jones)
Calum McFarlane is facing an injury crisis for Chelsea 's Premier League trip to Liverpool this weekend, with the Blues missing five wingers at Anfield.
McFarlane confirmed in Thursday afternoon's pre-match press conference that Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto, who are both carrying muscular-related knocks, will not be available for the trip to Merseyside. Garnacho and Neto both missed Monday afternoon's 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest due to injury.
Jesse Derry was taken off on a stretcher in the loss to Forest after hurting his head in a collision with Zach Abbott. The 18-year-old winger was taken straight from Stamford Bridge to hospital and while there are "positive signs", according to McFarlane, he is unavailable for this weekend's huge match.
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Meanwhile, Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens remain on the sidelines with hamstring injuries. Estevao will miss the remainder of the season, while Gittens' return date is less clear at this point. Either way, he is unlikely to make the squad at Anfield.
With all of this being said, McFarlane has a big dilemma. Bobby Vincent and Amie Wilson discuss and debate what they would do down below:
Bobby Vincent
Robert Sanchez is unavailable for the trip to Liverpool as Chelsea follow the concussion protocol after the goalkeeper's head collision on Monday. Filip Jorgensen returned to the squad after a groin injury earlier in the week and the Danish goalkeeper is set for his first start since his big mistake in the defeat away at Paris Saint-Germain back in March.
Reece James should come back into the side. It was a bit of a surprise not to see him come on at all in the defeat to Forest, but he should be slotting back in at right-back in place of Malo Gusto, who had a nightmare last time out.
It might seem a bit soon, or a bit of an unnecessary risk, but I would go for Levi Colwill on the left-hand side of the centre-back pairing. Colwill played 45-plus minutes on Monday and as long as he is feeling good within himself, then I would want him starting at Anfield.
Andrey Santos in for Romeo Lavia to give Chelsea some much-needed energy in the middle of the field, with Cole Palmer on the right-hand side, Enzo Fernandez in the No.10 and Joao Pedro on the left wing (given the injury crisis). Liam Delap to lead the line and hopefully make a timely contribution.
Bobby's XI : Jorgensen; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Delap
Amie Wilson
James' return to the bench against Nottingham Forest means that he should hopefully be available to take his place back in the XI for the clash against Liverpool. That will be a big boost for Chelsea, with him adding some much-needed leadership into the back line.
Wesley Fofana has been out of the side recently, but I think he should be brought back into the defence. In an ideal world, he will be joined in the XI by Colwill, but it may be wise to continue to build up his minutes from the bench.
Elsewhere, with Neto and Garnacho still missing, McFarlane might have to use Joao Pedro on the left-hand side. It's not ideal - but needs must. Fernandez in the slot just behind the striker, who should be Delap given Joao Pedro's slightly different role this weekend.
Amie's XI : Jorgensen; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Delap
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