Calum McFarlane sprang a surprise yesterday when it emerged that neither Alejandro Garnacho nor Pedro Neto were in the starting XI against Nottingham Forest. Both have faced their fair share of criticism lately. That being said, with the lack of depth and options, they were expected to start on the day.
There was also a lack of clarity around why they were dropped. No injury news had been confirmed leading up to the game. So, had there been a falling out behind the scenes? Or was it a tactical decision on the part of McFarlane?
Well, it was neither. Garnacho and Neto had picked up knocks leading up to the game. And with Chelsea losing quite convincingly against a second-string Nottingham Forest, who are 16th in the table, it goes to show that the issues at Stamford Bridge lie far deeper than a couple of underperforming players.
Chelsea have a few more games left to play this season, although very little to play for. Will those two be available when they take on Liverpool next?
Will Neto and Garnacho be available against Liverpool?
It looks like they might be. According to The Standard, Neto is not expected to be sidelined for too long. And like his teammate, Garnacho is also expected to recover in time for the trip to Anfield.
Neto is someone who has contributed positively in a number of aspects but ends up getting criticised a lot. On the other hand, Garnacho has faded badly after a decent enough start and is already being linked with a move away.
That being said, as things stand, Chelsea could do with both of them. Jamie Gittens, Estevao, and now Jesse Derry are all injured. The Blues simply do not have enough options on the flanks.
Chelsea need to put in a statement performance against Liverpool
It is safe to say that Chelsea have been terrible this season. That being said, they do seem to raise their game at times on the big occasion.
They were pretty much in the game for 75 minutes away in Paris. The Blues were also the better team against Manchester United. And they did get the result they needed in the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley.
So, Chelsea fans will be hoping that they put in a decent performance against Liverpool as well. As for the result, does it even matter anymore with Champions League spots no longer available?
