When Chelsea step out onto the Wembley turf on Sunday to contest the Carabao Cup Final against Liverpool, they’ll do so with a handful of first-team stars still missing but with one or two players back from long-term injuries.
Mauricio Pochettino and his side will be well aware that less than a month ago they were well beaten at Anfield, a 4-1 scoreline evidencing just how much better the Reds were on the night.
However, since then, Liverpool have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker to injury, and there are doubts over one or two other players for Jurgen Klopp.
In a final too, anything can and often does happen, so it’s likely that the German won’t consider his team favourites in this one-off game.
Indeed, Chelsea have nothing to lose and everything to gain after their humbling on Merseyside, so Pochettino will be delighted by the recent returns of Christopher Nkunku and Ben Chilwell, per football.london.
The outlet have also run the rule over a number of other Blues players and their respective chances of making the starting XI or the bench at best.
Chelsea missing six for Carabao Cup Final
They suggest that Thiago Silva will be monitored on a daily basis, therefore meaning a late decision on the Brazilian.
Carney Chukwuemeka is a doubt for the match, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana are definitely out, whilst Robert Sanchez is likely to be available.