Chelsea travel to Anfield with multiple wide players sidelined and Robert Sanchez unavailable, opening the door for Filip Jorgensen and role changes up front
The build-up to Chelsea’s visit to Anfield is dominated by a swelling list of injuries that force interim head coach Calum McFarlane into selection gymnastics. With multiple wide players ruled out and the first-choice goalkeeper sidelined after a head wound sustained against Nottingham Forest, the Blues arrive in Liverpool with limited natural options on the flanks and several selection dilemmas to resolve.
That absence in goal and the shortage of wingers have combined to make this fixture as much a personnel puzzle as a tactical one. The squad’s condition has led to the potential redeployment of versatile attackers and the recall of players who have only recently returned to training.
The team must balance risk and necessity with Champions League hopes on the line and the match scheduled for 12:30pm BST on Saturday May 9, 2026 at Anfield.
Goalkeeper situation and medical update
The most immediate fallout came when Robert Sanchez withdrew after sustaining a head injury in the defeat to Nottingham Forest.
He has been checked under concussion protocols by Chelsea’s medical staff and was pictured the night after the game with a significant cut that required stitches. In his absence, Filip Jorgensen replaced Sanchez and is the leading candidate to start between the sticks at Anfield, tasked with steadying a defence that will be altered elsewhere due to injuries.
Sanchez’s condition and Jorgensen’s chance
While the medical checks are ongoing, the club have indicated Sanchez will not be available for the trip—meaning Jorgensen will likely take the gloves. That call not only changes Chelsea’s goalkeeper pick but also carries psychological weight: Jorgensen must respond after earlier high-profile errors this season and will be viewed as a key figure in keeping Liverpool’s attack in check.
Wide-area absences and attacking reshuffle
Chelsea travel extremely light in the wings with five regular wide options unavailable: Jesse Derry, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens are all sidelined. That shortfall forces McFarlane to be creative, potentially shifting versatile forwards into wide roles. One likely solution is to deploy Joao Pedro on the left flank, with Cole Palmer on the right and Enzo Fernandez operating as the central playmaker behind the striker.
Expected formation and alternatives
The most probable structure is a form of the 4-2-3-1, with midfield protection from a double pivot combining Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo. Up front, Liam Delap is likely to lead the line despite limited returns this season. Alternatives under consideration include a two-striker setup to add firepower, a midfield-heavy shape to congest central areas, or a no-Delap option in which Joao Pedro leads the line and allows three creative players behind him.
Defensive selections and returning players
At right-back, the potential return of captain Reece James after a hamstring layoff offers a boost; he was named on the bench against Forest and could be risked from the start. If James does start, he would likely replace Malo Gusto, who endured a difficult outing in the previous match. Meanwhile, Levi Colwill—recently back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and introduced as a substitute—has pushed for a starting role and could partner Trevoh Chalobah to inject pace and composure into the back line.
Selection trade-offs
McFarlane must weigh the benefit of reintroducing experienced figures against the risk of disrupting a backline that has had to adapt repeatedly this season. The choices at full-back and centre-back will be crucial against a Liverpool side that still possesses pace and positional flexibility, even if they are not as prolific as in previous campaigns.
Practicalities and final thoughts
With limited attacking options, an altered defensive setup and a goalkeeper change, Chelsea’s XI is likely to reflect pragmatism. A predicted eleven from the current available pool might read: Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Delap. Whatever the exact selection, the match at Anfield will be a test of squad depth, the manager’s flexibility and the ability of returning players to perform under pressure.
