Key Chelsea star to miss Carabao Cup final against Liverpool

According to Matt Law of The Telegraph, Chelsea will be without Reece James for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on February 25.

James is still recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained in December, and there is no confirmed date for his return. This season, James has been limited to only nine appearances due to his injuries.

Chelsea’s substantial 6-1 victory over Middlesbrough in the semi-finals had raised hopes among fans that James might be fit for the final, but Matt Law’s report confirms that he will not be available for the match.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is also dealing with injuries to other players such as Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, Marc Cucurella, and Wesley Fofana.

While some may return for the final, Fofana is likely out for the rest of the season, and Cucurella, who underwent ankle surgery, is not expected back until March or April.

Despite these challenges, Pochettino has most of his first-team players available and will be keen to avoid any further injuries as Chelsea prepares to face Liverpool, looking to avenge their loss in the 2022 Carabao Cup final.