Chelsea will be hoping to redeem their dismal season by lifting the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and all eyes will be on whether Thiago Silva will be fit or not.
Thiago Silva picked up a groin injury during Chelsea’s win over Crystal Palace which forced him to miss last week’s draw against Manchester City.
The Brazilian international is facing a race against time to be fit for Sunday and Pochettino has admitted that the defender has a chance to start.
‘We need to assess a few players still to see if they can be involved on Sunday,’ said Pochettino in his pre-match press conference. ‘We will know tomorrow if we can recover some players from injury.
‘Thiago has a chance, tomorrow we will see if he is ready to be involved in the game.
Thiago Silva has been training with the rest of the Chelsea squad this week which means he will go through a late fitness test. The experienced defender has been one of the few consistent performers for Chelsea this season and if he is available then it will be a big confidence booster for Poch. Since joining Chelsea in 2020 as a free agent, he’s played in close to 150 games for the Blues and this season, he’s started 22 of the 23 Premier League games that he’s featured in.
Silva is the only player who has a chance of featuring in the matchday squad against Liverpool because all the other injured players won’t be available.
Badiashile, Cucurella and Chukwuemeka are nearing a return but the Carabao Cup final is going to come too early for him while players like Reece James and Wesley Fofana are still are few weeks away from full fitness.
If Thiago Silva is ready he is going to partner Disasi in central defence but if the 39-year-old cannot make it then young Levi Colwill will hold onto his place.
Chelsea injuries ahead of the Carabao Cup final:
Wesley Fofana – Ligament injury – Ruled out.
Reece James – Hamstring injury – Ruled out.
Marc Cucurella – Ankle injury – Ruled out.
Benoit Badiashile – Strain injury – Ruled out.
Thiago Silva – Fitness – Late fitness test.
Carney Chukwuemeka – Ankle injury – Ruled out.
Romeo Lavia – Fresh injury setback
Lesley Ugochukwu – Hamstring injury – Ruled out.
