Enzo Maresca has confirmed Chelsea will be without eight senior players for the Premier League clash against Liverpool.
Chelsea welcome the reigning Premier League champions to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, though Maresca has a smaller squad to select from as a result of injuries and suspension.
Trevoh Chalobah serves his one game ban after being sent-off in the 3-1 home defeat to Brighton last weekend, while Cole Palmer is among a long list of absentees because of an ongoing groin problem.
Palmer has since been left out of the latest England squad for upcoming games against Latvia and Wales, but Maresca has revealed a meeting regarding Chelsea’s star man is imminent.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference on Friday morning, the Italian said: “Cole is still out. We have Trev suspended. Seven or eight players out for tomorrow's game.
“I don't have any update at the moment [on Palmer]. We have a meeting this week.”
In the absence of Chalobah, Maresca’s options in central defence against Liverpool are limited with Levi Colwill ruled out for most of the season and Wesley Fofana observing the 12-day concussion protocol.
YoungsterJosh Acheampong is in contention to make his first Premier League start since the opening weekend of the new campaign,
Maresca saId: “Josh Acheampong has played, that shows I trust young players. In this moment, I think we have four or five defenders out.
“We are going to try and adapt and find the right solution for tomorrow.”
