Chelsea FC lost more than a penalty shootout to Liverpool last night. In the process of getting knocked out of the EFL Cup, they also suffered some fresh injuries. Given that the injury list was already growing to begin with, this is the very last thing the Blues needed. Let’s get you up to speed on Moises Caicedo, Maxence Lacroix, Malo Gusto and Jorrel Hato. Will any of them be available for the Halloween clash against Manchester United? We’ll analyze these situations now. We’ll also refresh the list of longer-term injury absentees.
Chelsea FC at Manchester United FYIs
Kickoff: Saturday Oct. 31, 12:30 BST, Stamford Bridge, London, UK
Team News: Chelsea FC Manchester United
Predicted XI: Chelsea FC Manchester United
Premier League Standing: Chelsea FC 5th, 13 pts Manchester United 16th, 7 pts
Four United Managerial Candidates if they do sack Carrick: go here
Google Result Probability: Man United win 23% Draw 24% Chelsea FC win 53%
Blues Team News
Lacroix limped out during the first half of last night’s cup clash, with what is apparently an injury to his left hamstring. Diagnostics have to be done first, before we can get a reasonably accurate timeline of how long he will be out.
“It’s too early to tell how serious it is,” Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said.
“Unfortunately, he felt something in his hamstring, and we need a couple of days to check what the injury is going to be.”
Alonso referenced Lacroix again, in the same breath where he discussed Caicedo and Gusto:
“The game had very intense moments. We knew that it was going to be physical, and after we had to deal with Max (Lacroix), Moi (Caicedo) had little problems. Malo as well – he had cramps. We were a little bit forced with substitutions.”
It sounds like Gusto will be fine for Saturday; Caicedo should be as well. Pep Chavarria could shake off his undisclosed issue and make the matchday squad here while Jorrel Hato is reportedly a 50/50 proposition with a knock.
Elsewhere Joao Pedro, Reece James, Emiliano Martinez and Jamie Gittens all remain sidelined as longer-term injury absentees.
And then finally, Cole Palmer will be available here, having finished serving out his suspension.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.