Chelsea are facing a serious selection headache ahead of their Premier League trip to Liverpool on Saturday (9 May 2026), with the club suffering a major injury crisis in the wide attacking areas. The West London side are now confirmed to be without six natural wingers for the high-profile clash at Anfield.
The situation has left interim head coach Calum McFarlane with limited options in attack at a crucial stage of the season, as Chelsea continue their push to secure European qualification.
Jesse Derry Injury Adds to Chelsea’s Growing Winger Crisis
The latest setback came in Chelsea’s 1-3 defeat to Nottingham Forest, where young forward Jesse Derry suffered a serious head injury on what was supposed to be his first senior start for the club. The 18-year-old was forced off on a stretcher after a worrying collision during the match.
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, early updates from the club have provided some relief. McFarlane confirmed that Derry’s condition is improving, although he is not expected to return to action in the immediate future.
“I spoke with Jesse’s father after the game and also with his family. All early signs have been very positive,” McFarlane said.
“The most important thing is his health. It is unfortunate his debut ended like that, but he showed real quality in the first half.”
Derry’s injury further worsens Chelsea’s attacking shortage, especially in wide areas where depth has already been severely reduced.
Multiple Wingers Already Sidelined for Chelsea
Chelsea are already without several first-team wide players due to injuries and other issues. Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto are both still recovering from muscle problems that kept them out of the defeat against Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Jamie Gittens and Estevao have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to long-term injuries, leaving Chelsea extremely short of natural options on the flanks.
To make matters even worse, Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable as he continues to face uncertainty over a potential four-year suspension related to an alleged anti-doping violation case.
With six wingers effectively unavailable, Chelsea are now left with virtually no senior wide forwards available for selection against Liverpool.
Tactical Adjustments Expected From Chelsea
Given the injury crisis, Chelsea are expected to make significant tactical changes for their visit to Anfield. One of the most likely adjustments is the use of Joao Pedro in a wider role, allowing Liam Delap to operate as the central striker.
Behind the forward line, Chelsea may rely heavily on the creativity of Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez to provide attacking support and link-up play.
McFarlane has also hinted that the club could turn to its academy system to fill the gaps in attack. Highly-rated 18-year-old striker Shim Mheuka, who has impressed in Premier League 2, is being considered as a potential squad option.
In addition, 17-year-old winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is also in contention to make his senior debut due to the lack of available wide players.
Goalkeeper Blow as Robert Sanchez Also Ruled Out
Chelsea’s problems are not limited to their attacking department. First-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has also been ruled out after suffering a head injury in the same match against Nottingham Forest.
As a result, backup goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is expected to step in and start against Liverpool at Anfield.
The absence of key players across multiple positions has significantly complicated Chelsea’s preparations, forcing the coaching staff to rethink both structure and strategy ahead of one of their toughest fixtures of the season.
McFarlane Remains Positive Despite Injury Setbacks
Despite the growing injury list, interim boss Calum McFarlane remains confident that Chelsea can still compete against Liverpool. He believes the squad still contains enough quality to challenge even under difficult circumstances.
“We still have a lot of players who can make an impact in the game,” McFarlane said.
“We just have to find different solutions, adjust our structure, and make sure we deal with the absences as best as possible.”
Chelsea will now head into the Anfield clash with a heavily depleted squad, but with hopes that their remaining fit players can step up and deliver a competitive performance in one of the most demanding away fixtures in English football.
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