Predicted Chelsea XI vs Liverpool as Joao Pedro’s role changes and Reece James decision made

Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane faces a number of dilemmas for this afternoon’s trip to Liverpool with the Blues missing five wingers through injury at the moment

Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane is unable to call upon five wingers for this afternoon’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.

The Blues make the long trip to Anfield without Jesse Derry, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens – unsurprisingly leaving McFarlane very short in wide areas. As well as this, Robert Sanchez is unavailable after he injured his head in Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge.

It is very much a wounded squad making the trip to the north-west, meaning McFarlane will have to make changes to his team. In what feels like a must-win match to keep Chelsea’s fading European hopes alive, football.london does its best at predicting the XI McFarlane will field.

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Philip Jorgensen

As mentioned earlier on, Sanchez is injured for the trip to Anfield. That means we could see Jorgensen in goal for the first time since that blunder against Paris Saint-Germain a little under two months ago. The Dane’s mistake that night has left a sour taste in mouths of supporters and he needs to make up for it somehow – perhaps this afternoon.

Reece James

James returned to the bench in the defeat to Forest after a nearly two-month absence with a hamstring injury. While the Chelsea captain didn’t come on at Stamford Bridge, he could make his long-awaited return this afternoon in what would be an enormous boost for the club.

Trevoh Chalobah

Chalobah wasn’t exactly at his best in the loss to Forest but the Cobham graduate is expected to keep his place at the heart of Chelsea’s back line. Wesley Fofana has not been used in the last couple of matches, with a start for the Frenchman seeming unlikely at this point.

Jorrel Hato

In the last couple of games, McFarlane has gone with Tosin Adarabioyo, mainly to combat physical forwards. Liverpool, though, have not got much in the way of physicality in their attacking line at the moment. Hato could come back into the defence for the visitors.

Marc Cucurella

The Spain international has been poor recently but it seems unlikely McFarlane will take him out of the team at Anfield. Cucurella desperately needs to improve. Ever since he flirted with a move to Barcelona, he has looked a shadow of himself on the pitch.

Romeo Lavia

Again, someone who needs to improve. It is difficult to see what Lavia adds to the midfield at the moment. Either way, McFarlane seems to rate him highly and that is why he could once again anchor the Chelsea midfield. The Belgian has played well against Liverpool in the past.

Moises Caicedo

Liverpool famously tried to sign the Ecuadorian and actually agreed a fee with Brighton for his services. Chelsea, though, outbid the Reds and Caicedo favoured a move to Stamford Bridge. How Chelsea fans would love a Caicedo performance to remind Liverpool about the level of midfielder they missed out on in the summer of 2023.

Cole Palmer

The England international’s form has been so poor recently and his confidence, inevitably, looks shot right now. These are the games where Chelsea need Palmer to step up and win them the match in one way or another.

Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez has enjoyed a brilliant season, on a personal note, but was not at his best for the defeat to Forest five days ago. In truth, nobody was, but the Blues need the Argentine midfielder to step up at Anfield this afternoon.

João Pedro

Due to the lack of wingers available to McFarlane, the interim head coach could change Joao Pedro ‘s role slightly. The Brazil international, whose versatility in attack is one of the numerous reasons Chelsea paid £60million for him last summer, could start on the left-hand side.

Liam Delap

With just two goals to his name this season, it has been a really frustrating time for Delap. The Chelsea No.9, though, is expected to lead the line on Merseyside this afternoon. He really, desperately, needs to start proving his worth to the team.

Predicted Chelsea XI : Jorgensen; James, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Eight