And Chelsea picked up a new injury worry in that match as Maxence Lacroix was forced off before the break.
asserted
Lacroix → pick → break
The good news for Chelsea supporters is that talisman Cole Palmer has now served a one-match suspension received for his red card against Tottenham.
asserted
Palmer → serve → Tottenham
The Brazilian picked up the injury during training ahead of the Tottenham game, leading to Xabi Alonso using Morgan Rogers as a makeshift striker as the Blues fell to a 2-0 defeat.
asserted
Blues → pick → defeat
It is not the first injury Joao Pedro has had to endure this season, with a knee problem preventing the striker from facing Brentford last month.
asserted
problem → have → Brentford
The 25-year-old went to see a specialist during the last international break.
asserted
old → go → break
Prior to the Liverpool game, Alonso issued an update and said: “He has an injury of his thigh and he is going to be out for a few weeks.
asserted
he → issue → weeks
“Let’s see how many.
asserted
’s → let → ?
We don’t want to predict on that, but he is not ready for the next games.
asserted
he → want → games
That provided supporters with a bit more information than was first offered.
asserted
That → provide → information
After the Spurs loss, Alonso said: “We don't know yet because he has a lot of fluid.
asserted
he → say → fluid
Read More
“He felt it yesterday and we need to wait probably until tomorrow to do the test and to know the whole situation and the whole seriousness of the injury.
asserted
we → read → injury
We will know soon enough.”
asserted
We → know → ?
Potential return date: Saturday November 21, vs Leeds (H)
Emi Martinez
Chelsea were without Martinez against Spurs, with back-up goalkeeper Mike Penders scoring a nightmare own goal on his first Premier League start.
asserted
Penders → back → start
Penders had to come off the bench at Everton the weekend prior to replace Martinez after a sickening collision left the Argentine with a fractured jaw.
asserted
collision → have → jaw
Martinez remains sidelined for multiple weeks after undergoing surgery
asserted
Martinez → sideline → surgery
Alonso said before the Tottenham game: “Emi is doing better.
asserted
Emi → say → game
He had the surgery and day by day he is feeling better, but we still need to wait.
asserted
we → have → day
Hopefully, less than more, but we need to wait.
asserted
we → need → ?
“The good thing is that he is feeling better and we need to listen to his feelings, the opinions of the doctors, the specialists, the surgeons.
asserted
we → feel → doctors
Considering it was a bad one, he is doing good.”
asserted
he → consider → ?
Martinez was spotted in good spirits at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as he watched his team-mates face Tottenham.
asserted
mates → spot → Tottenham
Potential return date: Mid-November
Pep Chavarria
It was hoped that Chavarria would be involved in Wednesday night’s cup clash with Liverpool after the wing-back sustained an injury in training a few weeks ago.
asserted
back → hop → training
A late withdrawal from the matchday squad that travelled to Everton two weekends ago, the Spaniard has returned to some level of team training.
“Pep is training a little bit more, but he is not going to make it [for the Tottenham game],” Alonso said prior to last weekend.
asserted
Alonso → travel → weekend
Potential return date: Saturday October 31, vs Manchester United (H)
Maxence Lacroix
Maxence Lacroix has been a mainstay for Chelsea this season and got the nod against Liverpool, but could not complete the first half.
uncertain
Lacroix → get → half
He pulled up after tracking Cody Gakpo and was promptly forced off, bearing a concerned expression.
asserted
He → pull → expression
Speaking at full-time, Alonso said: “Too early to tell.
asserted
Alonso → speak → time
Probably he felt something on the hamstrings.
asserted
he → feel → hamstrings
And we need a couple of days to check what's going to be the injury.”
asserted
what → need → days
Potential return date: Unknown
Reece James
James has been sidelined with a knee issue, making the defender one of Chelsea’s long-term absentees.
There was initial concern over another hamstring issue suffered just before the international break, preventing James from going on international duty with England.
asserted
defender → sideline → England
When the Blues captain returned to training at Cobham, he picked up a knee injury.
asserted
he → return → injury
First viewed as a short-term problem, with James missing the emphatic win over Bournemouth, a specialist then recommended surgery as the best option.
asserted
specialist → view → option
Chelsea described the surgery as “minor”, but it is understood that James will remain unavailable to Alonso for approximately three months.
asserted
James → describe → months
Fellow academy graduate Levi Colwill and midfielder Moises Caicedo have each worn the captain’s armband in James’ absence.
asserted
Colwill → wear → absence
Potential return date: Mid-January
Jamie Gittens
Gittens picked up an ankle injury while on international duty with England’s Under-21s.
asserted
Gittens → pick → Under-21s
Shortly after the European Championship qualifier against Kazakhstan, he was spotted using crutches at Molineux.
asserted
he → spot → Molineux
After assessment back at Cobham, Alonso provided a timeline of “weeks” for Gittens’ return - repeating the prognosis prior to the victory over Everton.
asserted
Alonso → provide → Everton
The Aporia
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