Chelsea’s Injury Crisis Deepens As Enzo Maresca’s Warning Comes True

Against Liverpool, Chelsea’s injury crisis worsened as two of their centre-backs were withdrawn from the match.

In the second half of a tight match, Frenchman Benoit Badiashile was replaced by Romeu Lavia after suffering an injury. Minutes later, teenage defender Josh Acheampong – who was in fine form – was forced to leave the pitch after he also picked up an injury, and his replacement was former Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

This adjustment saw club captain Reece James deployed at centre-back – a role he had never played before. The Englishman impressed alongside Hato and Cucurella, defending against two of the league’s most expensive strikers, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, in a makeshift defensive formation.

The Blues’ tough victory over Liverpool came at a heavy price. What should have been a statement victory instead deepened the club’s ongoing injury crisis, leaving Enzo Maresca short of options and raising serious questions about the board’s decision not to strengthen the club in the summer.

Chelsea’s Injury Crisis: The List Gets Longer

Injuries at Chelsea are now common, with Acheampong and Badiashile potentially joining:

• Levi Colwill Injury – ACL
• Cole Palmer Injury – Groin
• Tosin Adarabioyo Injury – Calf problem
• Wesley Fofana Injury – Concussion
• Dario Essugo Injury – Thigh
• Andrey Santos Injury – Muscle
• Liam Delap Injury – Hamstring

Josh Acheampong’s injury concerns may have been a minor one as he limped off against Liverpool and was pictured training with England Under-21s, which suggests that. Benoite Badiashile’s injury fears may not be a concern either.

Meanwhile, Reece James was withdrawn from the England squad. However, reports suggest that there are no major problems for the Blues captain.

Enzo Maresca’s Warning Ignored

After Levi Colwill – a defender who played a key role in Chelsea’s past successes in the Conference League and Club World Cup – suffered an ACL injury, head coach Enzo Maresca signaled his desire to strengthen the defence.

He said, “I think we need a centre-back. We are looking for an internal solution, but the club knows exactly what I think.”

This statement reveals that Enzo Maresca clearly understands the importance of squad depth, especially in the defense sector. However, in the final days of the transfer window, the board chose not to act on his request to sign a new defender, and left him to manage the existing options. This decision now seems costly considering the injury crisis Chelsea are experiencing.

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Estevao’s goal was overshadowed by injury

Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea on Saturday marked five years since the Reds last triumphed at Stamford Bridge. The decisive goal came from 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian, who converted Marc Cucurella’s cross after brilliant team building.

Head coach Enzo Maresca was shown a second yellow card for overzealous celebrations, leaving his assistant Willy Caballero to handle post-match duties. Speaking after the match, Caballero downplayed the injuries to Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile, saying “they both feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t seem too serious — we’ll assess it properly in the coming days.”

Given the increasing number of Chelsea players injured, there is cause for concern. The board may now be forced to dig into the club’s pockets in the January transfer window to bring in reliable defensive reinforcements.

The international break comes at the right time, giving players with minor injuries a valuable opportunity to recover and find a place in the starting lineup.

Once club football resumes, the Blues face a challenging series of fixtures in the Premier League, EFL Cup and Champions League. Their schedule includes games against an Ajax side who are unbeaten in their domestic league, as well as tough encounters against Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

Conclusion

Chelsea handed Liverpool their third successive defeat in all competitions, and while the win may have provided only a brief moment of celebration, it came at a cost. Enzo Maresca’s tactical discipline and the resilience of his players have kept the team at the top, but mounting injuries threaten to derail their momentum.

As the international break offers a recovery window, club officials must consider the risks of being inactive in the January transfer window.

The next few weeks will show whether Chelsea can weather this storm – or whether their weaknesses in defense will leave their ambitions for this season further fractured.

Main Photo

Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus

Recording Date: 04.10.2025