Chelsea shall be without several players as a consequence of injury as they travel to Everton today for a must-win Premier League clash.
The Blues lost ground within the race for Champions League football last weekend after falling to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United.
And pressure intensified on Liam Rosenior in midweek after his side suffered a humiliating 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea now head to Merseyside this evening as they appear to get back to winning ways, but are and not using a handful of key players as injuries pile up at the tip of the season.
Trevor Chalobah is the most recent player to be ruled out, with the centre-back set for a six-week spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off in midweek following a nasty-looking ankle injury.
Reece James can be still unavailable as a consequence of a hamstring problem, but Rosenior insisted on Friday that the Chelsea captain’s problem was not ‘serious’.
Elsewhere, Filip Jorgensen stays out after a small operation, while Levi Colwill has returned to first-team training but remains to be a way of a return to motion after his ACL injury.
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The Blues, though, might be boosted by the return of Estevao, who was an unusued sub against PSG in midweek after a six-game absence as a consequence of a hamstring injury.
And Malo Gusto is fit again and back in training after missing the PSG defeat as a consequence of illness.
Everton, meanwhile, are hopeful of welcoming back defensive duo Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski but shall be without Charley Alcaraz, Jack Grealish and Chelsea loanee Tyrique George on Sunday.
Chelsea XI to face Everton – Metro prediction
Jorrel Hato began in midweek at left centre-back, and the Dutchman will likely be joined there by Wesley Fofana following Chalobah’s injury.
Mamadou Sarr endured an evening to forget at right-back, dragged off at half-time against PSG, and will certainly get replaced by the returning Gusto at right-back.
Elsewhere, Rosenior will likely opt against wholesale changes in forward areas.
Enzo Fernandez’s recent comments on his future at Chelsea raised eyebrows over recent days, however the Argentine will certainly still start within the No10 role, with Andrey Santos and Moises Caicedo behind him.
The popular front three of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro are expected to proceed, with Jamie Gittens and Estevao still working their way back to full fitness.
Everton vs Chelsea TV channel, live stream and kick-off time
Everton vs Chelsea kicks off at 5.30pm today (Saturday, 21 March).
You possibly can watch the match survive Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Essential Event with streaming also available through the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers.
You may as well follow all of the motion with Metro’s LIVE match day blog.
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