Chelsea started the new season on the wrong foot as they went down 4-0 vs Manchester United on Sunday at Old Trafford.
And next up they travel to Istanbul to take on last season’s Champions League winner Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup.
The Blues have not been able to sign any new players this summer due to a transfer ban which means Frank Lampard has to rely on a host of young talent to get his through the whole campaign.
And on Sunday, the Blues boss named a number of academy talents in his first XI which clearly backfired as Man United picked apart Chelsea very clinically.
During the UEFA Super Cup too, the manager will have to name a few youngsters in his first XI owing to the long injury list and there are fears that Liverpool will do the same as Man United did to Chelsea.
Chelsea news vs Liverpool:
Ruben Loftus Cheek picked up a calf injury during the summer and the manager has confirmed that he will be out until November.
The manager said: “Probably he will be training with the group in five months, then he needs to be able to play at 100 per cent. I don’t know exactly the timing but 4-6 months.”
Defender Antonio Rudiger underwent knee surgery earlier this year and is expected to return only towards the end of this month.
This means that Lampard will once again have to name Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma in central defence on Wednesday vs Liverpool.
N’Golo Kante off the bench on Sunday during the final quarter of the game but the Frenchman is expected to start the UEFA Super Cup in midfield alongside Jorginho.
Christian Pulisic also came off the bench on Sunday but the American international is expected to start down the left flank which means Mason Mount should move back to the bench as Ross Barkley plays just behind the striker.
Tammy Abraham put in a fine shift vs Man United but given that Lampard is short on strikers he will not take any chances and let Olivier Giroud lead the line vs Liverpool.
Emerson had a number of shots on goal this weekend and could have easily gotten a brace for Chelsea.
But the left-back will hopefully be rested in Europe making way for Marcos Alonso who seems to have fallen down the pecking order under the new Chelsea boss.
Chelsea news: Blues’ predicted XI vs Liverpool
Starting XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante; Pedro, Barkley, Pulisic; Giroud.
