Chelsea's injury crisis deepens as they prepare for a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool this Saturday. The Blues are still without a permanent manager and are mired in a painful losing streak, making this 12:30pm kick-off a true test of character for interim boss Calum McFarlane.

The squad is badly depleted ahead of this Premier League clash. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez remains sidelined after being forced off with a head injury during the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest. He's still undergoing concussion protocols, so Filip Jorgensen is expected to step in between the sticks. "Rob is not going to be available after the injury he sustained in the Forest game," McFarlane confirmed.

On the flanks, the news is even more worrying. Wingers Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are both carrying knocks and are unlikely to feature. "It's looking unlikely that they are going to be available," McFarlane added. To make matters worse, academy star Jesse Derry is out for the remainder of the season after a head clash in that same Forest match. With no fit and available wingers in the squad, McFarlane is scrambling for solutions.

This forces a significant tactical reshuffle. Joao Pedro may be deployed in an unfamiliar left-sided role, while Enzo Fernandez is expected to operate in an advanced midfield position. Cole Palmer looks set to line up on the right, with Liam Delap leading the line as Chelsea hunt for a much-needed win. The absence of wingers is compounded by injuries to Estevao and Jamie Gittens, leaving McFarlane with few alternatives.

There is a glimmer of positive news, however. Captain Reece James could make his first start in over six weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury. He returned to the bench against Forest, and McFarlane now faces a tough decision on whether to risk him from the start at Anfield. With so many key players missing, Chelsea will need every bit of resilience they can muster to turn their fortunes around.