Chelsea are without Thiago Silva and seven other players for today’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
The veteran Brazilian centre-back had been in a race against time to make the showpiece fixture at Wembley after sustaining a groin problem in the 3-1 Premier League win at Crystal Palace nearly two weeks ago.
However, Silva misses out altogether this afternoon along with Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Marc Cucurella - leaving manager Mauricio Pochettino with limited options in defence.
Midfielders Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu are also out, though Cucurella joined Silva back in partial team training at Cobham on Friday.
Chelsea are unchanged from the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last week.
Djordje Petrovic continues as the starting goalkeeper despite Robert Sanchez's return from a knee problem and a personal issue. Sanchez is on the bench, along with fellow goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.
Petrovic plays behind a back four of Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell.
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher line up as the midfield trio, with Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling starting in attack.
Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke have to settle for places on the bench as the alternative attacking options available to Pochettino during the final.
Teenage duo Billy Gee and Jimi Tauriainen are also both handed places among the substitutes.
Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Fernandez, Gallagher, Caicedo; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling
Subs: Sanchez, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Gee, Gilchrist, Tauriainen, Madueke, Mudryk, Nkunku
Injuries: Silva, James, Cucurella, Fofana, Ugochukwu, Lavia, Badiashile, Chukwuemeka
Time and date: 3pm GMT on Sunday February 25, 2024
Venue: Wembley Stadium
TV channel: Sky Sports
