Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling will be sidelined for Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League match against Crystal Palace after both players received their fifth yellow cards of the season during the recent loss to Wolves on Christmas Eve. As a result of these bookings, they will serve a one-game suspension.
Palmer expressed frustration with a decision that went against him, resulting in him kicking the ball away and subsequently being booked. Concurrently, Sterling received a yellow card for falling and will also miss the game against Palace.
Meanwhile, Lesley Ugochukwu returned to the team after a period of absence due to illness but had to leave the game at Molineux in the second half due to what appears to be another muscular issue. The severity of Ugochukwu’s injury is still uncertain, but it’s highly unlikely that he will be available for Wednesday’s fixture.
Reports suggest that Moises Caicedo fell ill before the trip to the West Midlands and didn’t travel with the team, while Enzo Fernandez was also unwell and couldn’t attend the game, although he was present in the stands at Molineux.
Ben Chilwell’s return, if it happens, won’t be in time for the Palace game, and the same applies to Robert Sanchez, who is nearing a comeback but won’t feature at Stamford Bridge.
Furthermore, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, and Reece James remain sidelined due to extended absences. This scenario presents a challenge for Mauricio Pochettino’s team as the Palace game marks their second match in six days amidst a packed Christmas schedule.
Chelsea’s defeat to Wolves was regrettable as they squandered several opportunities to take the lead in the first half, which the hosts capitalized on during the second half.
Expressing disappointment after the game, Pochettino conveyed to Sky Sports, “We’re really upset because I believe we deserved much more.” He emphasized the need for clinical finishing in competition, lamenting the team’s failure to convert chances into goals. Pochettino emphasized the importance of adapting and improving, highlighting the youthfulness of the team and stressing the need for quality and trust among players.
The manager also expressed sorrow over the team’s inability to score and stressed the significance of maintaining a clean sheet when goals are hard to come by. He acknowledged conceding too many chances as a contributing factor to the defeat.
