Vesper 30,195 Posted October 18, 2024 Share Posted October 18, 2024 Reece James available for Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool but will be limited to one game a week, says Enzo Maresca https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5853115/2024/10/18/reece-james-injury-Chelsea-maresca/ Enzo Maresca says he will only use Chelsea captain Reece James once a week in a bid to help him avoid another injury. James is available for selection for the first time this season against Liverpool on Sunday having recovered from a hamstring strain suffered during pre-season. This weekend’s fixture will mark 562 days since James last played a full game in the Premier League. He has started just 19 times for Chelsea in the top division since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, mainly due to the amount of injuries he has suffered. Maresca said: “He (James) is available, finally he is back. He worked all through the international break. It is good news, especially for him because being injured is not a good feeling. “It is complicated when you get injury, injury, injury again. It is not easy. You are always looking for a solution. Probably the solution with Reece is the same we are using with Romeo (Lavia) and Wesley (Fofana) in terms of using them just once a week, one game. GO DEEPER Reece James is back in Chelsea training. Now he has to prove he can stay fit and find form “In this moment, for different reasons, Reece’s body cannot play twice a week so one of the solutions is we will try to manage him.” Chelsea have an intense fixture list for the rest of the year due to their involvement in the UEFA Conference League. They also have an EFL Cup Fourth Round game at Newcastle at the end of the month. When asked if using James on a minimal basis is just a short-term measure, Chelsea’s head coach added: “In this moment it can be the solution. In the future I do not know, but if we want to build something with him in terms of physical condition, probably the solution is to allow him to go slowly, slowly and then in the future we can use him more during the week. But in this moment we need to think about using him once a week.” Chelsea have no injury problems ahead of their trip to Anfield, but Marc Cucurella and Fofana are suspended. Ben Chilwell has resumed training after illness. Blue Armour 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyikolajevics 2,700 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Big big game Today! It's been long since I last felt so hyped before a Premier League round. Would be massive to win. Cucurella and Fofana will be greatly missed though.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmicway 1,333 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero 1,874 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Today is the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizy 18,928 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Would be a season defining win if we can pull it off and it would show that we are a serious team now that the other challengers need to respect. Going to be all about how our defense holds up from minute 1 when I expect Liverpool to try to blitz us like a bat out of hell straight from kickoff. I’m super nervous. Haven’t been as desperate for 3 points like this in a long time. As for the starting XI, I would 100% start Lavia here if we set up with a midfield 2. They’ll ruthlessly target Enzo’s lack of recovery pace if he’s in there. And I would also swap out Madueke for Neto to try to give Robertson a rough time with his constant aggression and pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulham Broadway 17,319 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Enzo and Arse Slot, both managers, will be looking to make a statement. Whoever comes out on top will be title contenders - however both will say its 'work in progress' after the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Kante 1,643 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 I expect either team to win by two goals or more. Whoever settles wins imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkh 597 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 (edited) Reece Edited October 20, 2024 by mkh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 30,195 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 first game all season I am truly stressed before 😥 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinctek 469 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Just now, Vesper said: first game all season I am truly stressed before 😥 same i hate playing liverpool! most my family, friends and people i work with support them and they DONT shut up about it Vesper 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 30,195 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 the only two teams on the planet I hate more than the bindippers are spuds and manure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyikolajevics 2,700 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Wow, James starts and also Lavia as Enzo dropped. Will be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 2,716 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Gone for a very dynamic and physical starting 11. I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinctek 469 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 (edited) Team to play Liverpool: Sanchez, James, Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Caicedo, Lavia, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson I like that we are playing Lavia, it seems solid in the middle. Edited October 20, 2024 by zinctek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Mikel OBE 4,920 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Lavia and Caicdo. Good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zinctek 469 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 thinking about it, is james up for this inverted role? he was lost in per season in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero 1,874 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 OMG, King James is baaaaaack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAM09 7,056 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 I'm slightly surprised James & Lavia are both starting, but I'm excited to see what is arguably our best XI. This is our first actual test. A positive outcome would provide a good indicator of where we stand as a team among the chasing pack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero 1,874 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizy 18,928 Posted October 20, 2024 Share Posted October 20, 2024 Have to assume that both Reece & Lavia looked excellent in training over the break in order for Maresca to throw them in for such a massive game. Still a HUGE risk with Reece. This could either go spectacularly well or be a disaster, lol. Tbh, I haven’t watched much of Liverpool this season so I’m not sure how good Gakpo and Jota have been, but I’m not really as worried about them as I am of Luis Diaz. So I’m kinda glad he’s not starting. Of course, now Gakpo will score since I mentioned it. 😑 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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