Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea this weekend takes on even greater significance after Enzo Maresca confirmed Cole Palmer will not feature due to a groin injury.
The Blues’ head coach admitted his playmaker will be out until after the international break, removing one of Chelsea’s most consistent attacking threats from the clash with us at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca update provides Liverpool advantage
Speaking to the press (via Anfield Index), Maresca said: “Yes, we decided to protect a little bit Cole, in terms of not letting his injury get worse.
“We decided to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break to see if with that rest he can recover 100% and to be fit after the international break.”
He added: “I don’t think he needs surgery but it is just to manage the pain in his groin. We have decided to be a little bit conservative with him.”
That omission leaves Chelsea without their main creative spark, especially from set-pieces.
It comes as Maresca also confirmed absences for Liam Delap, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Dario Essugo, with Trevoh Chalobah suspended.
This injury crisis could open the door for us to press home an advantage, particularly after the back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray highlighted the need for a reaction.
Liverpool must respond after European setback
Arne Slot left Mo Salah on the bench in Istanbul, but the Egyptian is expected to return to the XI against Chelsea.
We have also been hit with injury concerns in recent weeks but reports on both Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa suggest we should see our squad boosted in London.
Palmer’s absence now tilts some of the pressure onto Chelsea’s depleted midfield, and it will be up to us to take control in the engine room.
With Alexander Isak also pushing for a start, the game presents a chance to reset momentum after a bruising week.
Liverpool have already shown under Slot that we can bounce back quickly, and with Chelsea stretched, this fixture could be the perfect platform to put those lessons into practice.
You can watch Slot’s full post-Galatasaray press conference via Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
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That’s some good news that palmer isn’t playing, he single handedly won this fixture for Chelsea last season. So what can we expect in this game? Chelsea will do exactly the same as they did last season, play like the away team, all in defence waiting to hit us on the counter. At the moment I really don’t know what to expect from this Liverpool team. What system are we now playing. I don’t like saying it but we’ve lost our identity, we look like Manchester United under Eric ten hag . His biggest failure was a weak midfield that couldn’t dominate possession and just relied on counter attacking. Salah will return, I’d be surprised if Bradley isn’t starting, Isak has to play, but the 116 million pound question is will slot persist with wirtz. Highly risky going to Chelsea with a weakened midfield. If we don’t defend the counter properly, and keep giving the ball away except another defeat. All the pressure is on Liverpool and slot.