Liverpool vs Chelsea: Early injury blow ahead of Caraboa Cup game

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool is challenged by Victor Moses of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on May 6, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool is challenged by Victor Moses of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on May 6, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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There has been an early injury blow before Liverpool take on Chelsea in the Caraboa Cup on Wednesday night.

Young Blues midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be forced to sit out the encounter, reported the Telegraph. According to the newspaper, Loftus-Cheek has undergone a mystery injection and won’t be ready to play again until next week.

The England youngster previously suffered from a shin complain, which he picked up during Chelsea’s dismantling of Cardiff City.

New Blues manager Maurizio Sarri has failed to start Loftus-Cheek so far this season, and this competition would have been the midfielder’s chance to make a good impression on the Italian.

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It’s notoriously tough for talented young footballers to break through at Stamford Bridge, and you have to go back to John Terry to find the last academy graduate to do so.

Even Nathaniel Chalobah, who was backed to be valued at £50 million player by Watford teammate Troy Deeney, had to move on in order to find enough first team football to help his development.

And that’s why the Telegraph reckons Loftus-Cheek could leave the club again in January. The England youngster spend time at Crystal Palace last season and impressed, so it’s not going to be hard for him to find a new club.

Earlier in the week Sarri admitted that it’ll take Chelsea a year or more to get to the same level as Liverpool, but that shouldn’t allow complacency to seep into the Reds’ ranks.

With Jurgen Klopp at the helm, there is little chance of that happening.  Liverpool should be on the hunt for trophies like the Caraboa Cup, especially after a summer of spectacular squad strengthening.

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That means the club should be able to take on and beat a full strength Chelsea team, who now have one less rotation option after the Loftus-Cheek news.