{"id":6320,"date":"2026-05-09T06:59:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T06:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=6320"},"modified":"2026-05-09T06:59:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T06:59:56","slug":"calum-mcfarlane-adds-teenage-chelsea-duo-to-first-team-squad-for-liverpool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=6320","title":{"rendered":"Calum McFarlane adds teenage Chelsea duo to first team squad for Liverpool"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-367178\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add as preferred source on Google<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>In a clear sign that the future of Cobham is already knocking on the door of the first team, interim boss Calum McFarlane has signaled his faith in Chelsea\u2019s next generation for the Liverpool clash.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_9d78208eea305cbc-173\">Chelsea\u2019s trip to Anfield this weekend is more than just a headline clash; it is a critical moment in the hunt for Champions League football. With England and Spain securing the 2026\/27 European Performance Spots, the Premier League\u2019s top five are already guaranteed a place in the competition.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<p id=\"p-rc_9d78208eea305cbc-173\">However, a complex sixth-place miracle remains on the table for Chelsea. If Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth in the league, their Champions League qualification spot would pass down to the sixth-place finisher under the current UEFA rebalancing rules.<\/p>\n<p>But, it won\u2019t be easy at Anfield, as the Blues look set to be without Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho in attack, which sees them have zero fit wingers available. <\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar-poll\" data-story-id=\"0014d213-24cc-415e-a559-10d6a8ddd9a0\" data-story-name=\"2025\/26 Season\" data-comment-id=\"d94a9ecd-e8b9-421e-91aa-5752ec58a21a\" data-story-slug=\"2025-26-season\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">QUARTER-FINAL 3: Which Chelsea player has had the best season?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-14-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-367146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-14-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-14-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-14-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-14-912x1140.jpg 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-14-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/TCC-Polls-14.jpg 1080w\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mathis-eboue-and-ryan-kavuma-mcqueen-called-up-to-chelsea-first-team-to-face-liverpool\">Mathis Eboue and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen called up to Chelsea first team to face Liverpool <\/h2>\n<p>A reputable Chelsea academy source, The Chelsea Spot, has claimed that Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Mathis Eboue have travelled with the first team squad to face Liverpool at Anfield.<\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_9ddc8ff7f87bb4f9-186\">Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has been one of the standout stars of the Under-21s this season, recording an impressive nine goals and three assists in 25 appearances. <\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_9ddc8ff7f87bb4f9-186\">The 17-year-old has already notched his first-team debut, featuring for 12 minutes during the 7-0 FA Cup victory against Port Vale last month, as well as featuring regularly in training.<\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_9ddc8ff7f87bb4f9-187\">Mathis Eboue has enjoyed a brilliant season of his own for the Under-18s, tallying 11 goals and six assists in all competitions, and even signed his professional contract in February. <\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_9ddc8ff7f87bb4f9-187\">And while he has supposedly traveled with the senior squad to Anfield and trained frequently with the first team, the teenager is yet to make his official competitive debut. <\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"778db1d5-05a5-4b2e-9f9b-b95ab7dbecc5\" data-story-name=\"Chelsea vs Liverpool\" data-comment-id=\"fa5100be-a7cc-4219-ad8a-13b26965c5e6\" data-story-slug=\"chelsea-vs-liverpool\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">Score predictions for Chelsea\u2019s trip to face Liverpool? Do you agree with Merson?\ud83d\ude2c<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-6-819x1024.png\" alt=\"Chelsea vs Liverpool score predictions\" class=\"wp-image-367162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-6-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-6-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-6-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-6-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-6-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-6.png 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse\/Getty Images)\">Photo by James Gill \u2013 Danehouse\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/calum-mcfarlane-adds-teenage-chelsea-duo-to-first-team-squad-for-liverpool\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0),j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)(0);e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")(0).appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'Calum McFarlane adds teenage Chelsea duo to first team squad for Liverpool',content_category:'News',content_ids:(367178,\"ryan-kavuma-mcqueen\"),content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add as preferred source on Google In a clear sign that the future of Cobham&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}