By Frank Kamuntu
Chelsea must decide upon a replacement for Christopher Nkunku as they begin their Premier League campaign with a blockbuster clash against Liverpool today.
Nkunku has had surgery after damaging the meniscus in his knee during pre-season and is expected to be sidelined for approximately four months in another injury blow after missing last year’s World Cup with France.
Mauricio Pochettino wants to enter the transfer market to add an attacker to cover the loss of his new £52million signing from RB Leipzig but will have to look within the squad for this afternoon’s match at Stamford Bridge.
Mykhailo Mudryk is well placed to start on the left wing with Carney Chukwuemeka and Nicolas Jackson playing in attack alongside Raheem Sterling.
Armando Broja is nearing his return from injury and joined the group in training this week. Benoit Badiashile is also nearing his return from a significant hamstring problem but is unlikely to play against Liverpool.
Noni Madueke is also an injury doubt and won’t be fit enough to start having had a tight hamstring throughout Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States.
Wesley Fofana may be out for the season having torn his anterior cruciate ligament, leaving new manager Pochettino with a long injury list at the start of the new season.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was likely to continue as the No1 goalkeeper despite Chelsea signing Brighton’s Robert Sanchez as competition, though now seems to be heading to Real Madrid as a short-term replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Reece James is now club captain and will play on the right of a back four alongside Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell. Enzo Fernandez is likely to play in midfield alongside Conor Gallagher.
Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi are all training away from the first team at Cobham and will not play as they remain on the transfer list.
Chelsea predicted XI: Sanchez, James, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Chilwell, Fernandez, Gallagher, Sterling, Chukwuemeka, Jackson, Mudryk
Injured: Nkunku, Chalobah, Fofana, Badiashile, Broja, Bettinelli
Doubt: Madueke
Time and date: 4:30pm BST on Sunday August 13, 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge,
