Chelsea vs Liverpool injury news as 9 ruled out and 4 doubts for Premier League clash

Chelsea are back in action on Saturday when they face league leaders Liverpool. The Blues have had a difficult time of late, losing their last two Premier League games, but they did beat Benfica in the Champions League during the week.

As for Liverpool, they were in good form to start the season, but they lost to Crystal Palace last weekend and then saw one defeat become two when they lost to Galatasaray in the Champions League during the week. Ahead of Saturday’s clash at Stamford Bridge, here we go through the early injury news surrounding both teams.

Giovanni Leoni - Out

The youngster suffered a serious ACL injury that could keep him out for up to a year. Arne Slot said: “He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL, which means he will be out around a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game, it's very hard to take the positives. But you try to look at that, and that is that he is still so young, and he has so many years still to go after he recovers.” Leoni has had successful surgery this week.

Federico Chiesa - Doubt

Slot said late last week: “He got a little niggle, I think it is the word you use here in England, in the last game against Palace. He tried it today, he was on the pitch in the beginning, but he couldn't end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it's Chelsea again.”

Hugo Ekitike - Doubt

Ekitike picked up an injury during the Galatasaray defeat. Slot said afterwards: “He felt something when he had to reach for the ball. After the game, the difficult thing [is] when players feel like it is not too bad, but when you just walk around, it is something different than when you make a sprint or have to shoot on target. He said he couldn't continue, so we had to take him off. Let's see how he is for the weekend.”

Alisson Becker - Out

Alisson also picked up an injury during the Galatasaray defeat. Slot said afterwards: “When he sprinted back, he felt something. I cannot tell you [exactly] because I am not a physio, but normally when a player sprints back - feels something - goes to the floor and doesn't come back onto the pitch [it is not good]. Normally, he will not be able to play on Saturday. That's 99.9 per cent - I've already said 100 per cent, but let's make it 99.9 [although] I think it's 100.”

Trevoh Chalobah - Out (Suspended)

Chalobah will serve his suspension here after a red card in his last Premier League appearance.

Andrey Santos - Doubt

Santos had what has been described as a ‘small problem’ that kept him out for Benfica. He should have a chance of returning here, but he will remain a doubt for now.

Liam Delap - Out

Maresca said of Delap in mid-September: “Liam is around 10-12 weeks, so a long way to go.”

Wesley Fofana - Doubt

Fofana has missed the last two games with a concussion. Maresca said last week: “Wes suffered a concussion the other day against Lincoln [and will miss the Brighton game].” He could return here, but he will have to pass concussion protocol.

Cole Palmer - Out

Maresca confirmed last week that Palmer will be kept on the sidelines for a couple of weeks as a precaution. He said: “We have decided to protect Cole a little bit, in terms of his injury not getting worse. So, we decided to rest him for the next 2-3 weeks, probably until after the international break, to see whether, with rest, he can recover 100 per cent and be completely fit.”

Tosin Adarabioyo - Out

Maresca confirmed last week: “We have Tosin injured. He will probably be out until the international break as he has a small problem with his calf.”

Levi Colwill - Out

Colwill has been ruled out for much of the season after an ACL injury. Maresca said shortly after the injury: “He is ok, aware he will be out for a long time. It’s a big loss for us. You know how important Levi has been for us last season and the way we want to play. We have said many times that we are able to create chances and attack if we’re able to build up the right way, and Levi was a huge part of our build-up.”

Dario Essugo - Out

Essugo has undergone surgery and will miss around four months of action. A club statement read: “Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action, and Dario will now begin his recovery at Cobham, supported by the club's medical department.”

Myhailo Mudryk - Out (Suspended)

Mudryk remains suspended due to alleged doping. A statement at the time read: “We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of Regulations 3 and 4 of The FA's Anti-Doping Regulations. As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”

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