Enzo Maresca has attributed Chelsea's mounting injury list to the aftermath of their Club World Cup triumph, with the manager facing the prospect of being without “seven or eight” players for Saturday's Premier League clash against Liverpool.
Cole Palmer is the latest absentee, sidelined with a recurring groin problem, joining long-term casualties Wesley Fofana, Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, Andrey Santos and Tosin Adarabioyo. Trevoh Chalobah is also unavailable due to suspension following his red card in last weekend's defeat to Brighton.
A report from global players' union Fifpro highlighted that Chelsea's players had only 20 days off after winning the Club World Cup in July, linking the high workload to injury problems at both Chelsea and beaten finalists Paris Saint-Germain. Maresca concurred with the findings, stating: “It's reality. If PSG and Chelsea have so many injuries, probably it's some consequences from the Club World Cup.”
Despite the setbacks, Maresca expressed confidence in his squad depth, particularly 19-year-old Josh Acheampong, who is expected to make his fourth Premier League start at centre-back. “I really trust the young players,” Maresca said. “Not just the young players that we buy but also the young players from the academy.”
However, Maresca downplayed concerns over Chelsea's disciplinary record, which has seen them accumulate seven red cards in 73 games since his appointment in June 2024 – the worst among Premier League clubs. “I don't see any discipline problem,” he insisted, adding that each red card should be analysed case by case.
