The Carabao Cup final is fast approaching but both Liverpool and Chelsea are dealing with an injury headache.
Liverpool and Chelsea fans are feeling the pinch as a shocking injury crisis threatens to sideline as many as 20 players for the Carabao Cup final. It’s been a tough week for high-profile injuries, with the list of players out of contention for the Wembley final growing.
As Jurgen Klopp saw Diogo Jota leave the field against Brentford last weekend, social media was buzzing with discussions about the Reds’ fitness issues. But Chelsea have been dealing with a large number of absentees throughout the season, seriously impacting their league form.
Mohamed Salah had been sidelined since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations before he played against the Bees – there was a point just one week ago when his place in the final was uncertain. A potential recurrence of the hamstring injury he sustained in Ivory Coast has put a question mark on his involvement once again.
Klopp didn’t provide a specific update on the Egyptian before Liverpool’s match at Anfield against Luton on Tuesday, but did mention that a group of players are being managed “day-by-day.” The squad chosen for the game against the Hatters might shed some light on the situation, with Darwin Nunez, Salah, and Dominik Szoboszlai all facing challenges for Sunday’s match.
Young winger Ben Doak, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, and Thiago Alcantara are all facing long-term issues. For many Chelsea fans, it’s not a big deal though. Mauricio Pochettino has had almost an entire team out with injuries at most stages this term.
Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia, Carney Chukwuemeka, and until recently Robert Sanchez and Trevoh Chalobah, have all had serious issues that haven’t been questioned much in press conferences. Some of these players have been back for short periods, or are currently returning (Chalobah and Sanchez), but none of the others have started a game since December 24 – and that is only Ugochukwu.
Marc Cucurella is also out – though he has returned to individual training at Cobham, football – and has been since December, while a problematic few weeks at the back has left Pochettino without two of his first-choice centre-backs. Benoit Badiashile is ruled out for the final, and Thiago Silva is a huge doubt after missing the cut for the squad against Manchester City on Saturday.
Christopher Nkunku is back but has only started three games for the club since his transfer last summer. He seemed a bit slow at the Etihad Stadium when he was subbed on. Many Chelsea fans believe that the media hasn’t fully covered the big problems at Stamford Bridge, especially with keeping players fit and getting them back quickly.
The excitement of the third domestic final in three years between these teams has been somewhat dampened by Klopp’s recent troubles. Jota won’t be playing in the final after being stretchered off against Brentford. Curtis Jones, Alisson Becker, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also out.
This means a lot of big names won’t be playing, or even in contention to play, on February 25. Here, the ECHO gives you the rundown on the current situation and it doesn’t look great for either team.
Liverpool players who won’t be playing in the final include Ben Doak, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker, and Curtis Jones.
Liverpool players who might not play in the final are Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah.
Chelsea players definitely not playing in the final: Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile
Chelsea players who might not play in the final: Robert Sanchez, Thiago Silva, Carney Chukwuemeka
