In Chelsea’s heated 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, two of the Blues’ key defenders, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, received yellow cards, which now rules them out of the upcoming fixture against Liverpool at Anfield on October 20.
The Spaniard, Cucurella, was booked following a shoulder barge, while Fofana picked up a yellow card for a cynical late challenge. Both players have been mainstays in Chelsea’s defense this season, starting every match so far, making their absence for the crucial trip to Liverpool even more significant.
Fofana’s discipline has been a point of concern, as he has now been booked in each of Chelsea’s last five matches. Similarly, Cucurella has collected yellow cards in four consecutive games, in addition to being cautioned in the club’s second match of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Their aggressive approach in defense has been a double-edged sword for Chelsea—while it adds toughness to their backline, the repeated bookings have now led to suspensions.
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Chelsea have options to cover for the absence of Fofana and Cucurella, with players like Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, and Trevoh Chalobah potentially filling in.
However, losing two defensive stalwarts will undoubtedly make the trip to Anfield more challenging. So far this season, Chelsea’s defense has been relatively solid with Fofana and Cucurella in the lineup, conceding only eight goals in seven matches and losing just one game.
Their presence has provided stability at the back, and replacing that consistency will be a test for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Despite the setback, Chelsea will have time to regroup during the international break before returning to Premier League action at Anfield on October 20. The Blues will need to adjust quickly, as after the Liverpool clash, they face a tricky trip to Greece to take on Panathinaikos in the Europa Conference League.
Balancing these two key fixtures without two of their most reliable defenders will be a true test of Chelsea’s depth and resilience as they look to maintain their solid form across competitions.