Chelsea face a defensive crisis ahead of their clash with Liverpool at Anfield after losing key players during their 1-1 draw this weekend.
Chelsea’s Backline in Trouble: Three Defenders Set to Miss Crucial Liverpool Match
Both Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season, earning suspensions that will rule them out for the crucial match after the international break.
To make matters worse, injuries to Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke have left Enzo Maresca sweating over his team’s depth.
Fofana and Cucurella’s absences disrupt the backline that has been remarkably stable for Chelsea so far this season.
Colwill, who has been a standout performer, left the pitch with a knock, and while the injury doesn’t appear too serious, there are still concerns over his availability for the Liverpool match.
Maresca, who has benefitted from an unusually consistent starting XI, will now have to reshuffle his defense. Tosin Adarabioyo is likely to step in for Fofana, but replacing Cucurella could prove tricky.
Renato Veiga is the most obvious candidate to fill in at left-back, but he’ll be returning late from international duty with Portugal, leaving little time to prepare.
The uncertainty surrounding Colwill only adds to the challenge. If he misses out, three of Chelsea’s regular back four could be absent, leaving them vulnerable against Liverpool’s high-intensity attack.
Pedro Neto is expected to replace Madueke, providing some hope on the offensive front, but Maresca will need to find creative solutions to stabilize his defense.
With just two weeks to figure it out, the Chelsea boss will be working overtime to ensure his side is ready for one of their toughest fixtures of the season.
