Five things spotted in Chelsea training as Calum McFarlane drops early Liverpool team news hint

Chelsea have lost each of their last six games in the Premier League, and Calum McFarlane has tasked with leading the Blues back to winning ways.

Calum McFarlane has been putting the Chelsea players through their paces ahead of this weekend’s clash against Liverpool. The interim head coach will look to lead the Blues back to winning ways at Anfield on Saturday afternoon after six successive defeats in the Premier League.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, McFarlane outlined his intentions to get Chelsea back on track. The 38-year-old said: “We want to turn it around, we know that the standards that this club has set, we aren’t meeting them at this moment.

“The only thing we can control is how we behave and act every single day, how hard we work to turn that level of performance around,” added McFarlane. “They’re a really good side, a lot of good players, there’s a lot of threats that we have to be aware of.

“We also have a lot of good players, and we’re just focusing on ourselves at the moment and making sure that our performance levels are at a higher level than what they have been.”

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So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at five things you may have missed in training at Cobham this week.

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James and Colwill rebuild fitness

Chelsea have been given a huge boost ahead of Saturday afternoon’s clash against Liverpool. Reece James and Levi Colwill have had another full week of training under their belt as they each rebuild their fitness following spells on the sidelines.

The Cobham graduates were at the heart of the action as McFarlane stepped up preparations for a crucial game in Merseyside. James particularly impressed, featuring on the winning team of a small-sided game.

Chelsea youngster given chance to shine

Olutayo Subuloye, standing on the far left of the Chelsea team photo above, was involved in first-team training this week. The 18-year-old defender was given the chance to test himself against the seniors, having already made an excellent impression for the under-18s and under-21s this term.

Subuloye, who signed a contract at the start of the year that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until at least June 2030, had made seven appearances for McFarlane before he became heavily involved with the men’s team. He played five times for the interim Blues head coach in the UEFA Youth League, one in the Premier League 2 and one in the EFL Trophy.

The England Under-18 international joined the likes of James and Enzo Fernandez on the winning team in training. With a couple of big names nursing injuries, Subuloye will hope he’s done enough to earn a place in the matchday squad on Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea duo battle for vacancy

With Robert Sanchez out, Filip Jorgensen and Teddy Sharman-Lowe were battling it out for a place between the sticks this weekend. Despite their best efforts, however, James Hillson was on the winning team of a small-sided game.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper, who has been on the Blues’ books since last summer, spent about six years at Arsenal before leaving to join Southend United on a free transfer in the summer of 2024. He eventually made his way to Salisbury in the National League South, where he featured four times last season.

It’s not the first time that Hillson, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, holds a UEFA B Coaching Licence, has been spotted in Chelsea training, let alone on the winning team!

Chelsea bib theory

Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and Wesley Fofana were the only players to be spotted wearing an orange bib in training footage released by Chelsea. It may not count for much, nor will it necessarily be a surprise if all three start on Saturday afternoon, but McFarlane appeared to be building his game plan around the trio.

Chelsea mentality coach spotted

Willie Isa, whom Chelsea appointed as player support and development officer last year, was spotted on the sidelines. The 37-year-old has previously been described as a ‘cultural architect’ and a ‘mentality monster’ by his former rugby league colleagues.

So, with qualification to the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup still up for grabs, McFarlane will be hoping Isa can work his magic…