Chelsea has the opportunity to narrow the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just two points later today.
After Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Saturday, Chelsea enters their match against Brentford five points behind the league leaders.
However, manager Enzo Maresca might be missing a few key players for this West London derby.
Joao Felix recently picked up an injury, and Romeo Lavia could also miss the game after sustaining a minor hamstring issue last weekend.
Lavia was substituted in Chelsea’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as a precaution. Maresca reassured that it wasn’t anything serious, but the midfielder has not been seen in training, leading to speculation that he could be unavailable for tonight’s match.
Chelsea’s training group included Sanchez, Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernández, Caicedo, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, and Jackson, while Chilwell and Casadei participated in warm-ups. Lavia, Mudryk, Nkunku, and Félix were absent.
Lavia has struggled with fitness issues this season and missed nearly all of the previous campaign due to injury, so Maresca’s cautious approach makes sense.
If Lavia is unavailable for the Brentford game, it would be a significant blow for Chelsea’s manager.
Despite his injury setbacks, Lavia has become an important player for Chelsea. In just nine Premier League appearances this season, he has proven to be a valuable asset, especially in the defensive midfield role, where he is known for his ability to play under pressure and quickly transition to attack.
Although he only played 45 minutes in Chelsea’s last match, former footballer Jamie Carragher was highly impressed with his performance, describing Lavia as “brilliant” and stating that he looks like a “real player.”
Given Lavia’s impact this season, Carragher’s praise is well-founded. If Lavia is unable to play tonight, it would be a significant loss for Chelsea.
