Chelsea facing Liverpool crisis with 8 players out in defensive nightmare

INJURIES have been a key factor in Chelsea's turbulent start to the season, and they're not letting up on Enzo Maresca.

The Italian boss revealed in his Friday press conference that EIGHT players will be missing from his squad for the visit of league leaders Liverpool this weekend.

2 Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah will both miss Chelsea's clash with Liverpool Credit: Getty

2 Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill are huge absences for the Blues Credit: Getty

If the Blues are beaten, they will fall 10 points behind the reigning champions after just seven games, though Maresca believes his team will still be competing with the top sides come the end of the season.

An injury to Levi Colwill in the first training session of the season saw their first-choice centre-half ruled out for most of this campaign, after he was forced to undergo surgery on an ACL injury.

And now a mixture of other injuries and suspensions means the Blues are left with just Benoit Badiashile, who has played 92 minutes of football since the end of June as a 'senior' option at the back, aged 24.

Trevoh Chalobah 's suspension, compounded by a concussion to Wesley Fofana, and a calf injury to Tosin Adarabioyo , means Chelsea have FOUR central defenders missing for the visit of Liverpool.

Aside from Badiashile, Maresca will need to call on either Josh Acheampong or Jorrel Hato , both aged 19, to play against one of the most formidable attacks in the Premier League on Saturday.

Chelsea's manager, however, insists he fully trusts those players, despite their age, saying: "Cole is still out, Trev is suspended, we have seven or eight players out for tomorrow's game.

“It is a fact that I really trust the young players. Not just the ones we buy, but those from the academy. Josh Acheampong has played, which shows I trust young players. We have four or five defenders out. We are going to try and adapt and find the right solution for tomorrow.

“I consider them (Liverpool) the best team in England at the moment because they have shown that, and they won the Premier League. We are improving and trying to solve problems. For sure, in the end, we will be there and close.”

Those problems for Maresca, of course, haven't just been defensively or in terms of discipline, he also has a number of creative and goal-scoring injuries to contend with.

Cole Palmer , Andrey Santos , Dario Essugo and Liam Delap will also be missing from the game against Liverpool, while Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro have been playing in every game despite not being at full fitness.

Caicedo and Pedro were both doubts for the game against Benfica , but ended up playing regardless, the former for the entire 90 minutes.

With Palmer and Delap missing, the creative burden falls on Stamford Bridge 's latest sensation, Estevao, or Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte , with Pedro expected to start as the striker once more.

The Blues will at least be boosted by Romeo Lavia's return for a cameo in the Champions League vs Benfica, though Maresca will be wary of rushing him back in a game that will be so intense.

Chelsea will have EIGHT players missing for the visit of Liverpool this weekend, including Cole Palmer and Tosin Adarabioyo, who watched the win vs Benfica on the bench.

Wesley Fofana - Concussion

Tosin Adarabioyo - Calf problem

Trevoh Chalobah - Suspended

Levi Colwill - ACL injury

Dario Essugo - Thigh injury

Andrey Santos - Unconfirmed

Cole Palmer - Groin injury

Liam Delap - Thigh injury