Liverpool handed major fitness boost ahead of Chelsea clash with key player available after he ‘felt something’ in Champions League loss at Galatasaray

Liverpool are preparing for one of the biggest matches of their season as they get ready to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, but just when the mood around Anfield looked dark and heavy with the growing injury crisis, a small piece of light has arrived to lift the spirits of the fans and the dressing room. Arne Slot and his players have been under massive pressure in the last few days after back-to-back painful defeats against Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Galatasaray in the Champions League. It has been a week that has tested the mental strength of everyone connected with Liverpool, but the latest news about Hugo Ekitike has given the Reds a major boost going into this high-pressure battle against Chelsea.

The story of Ekitike’s injury scare started in Istanbul on Tuesday night. The atmosphere in the Turkish capital was electric, with Galatasaray fans creating one of the most intimidating environments in European football. Liverpool walked onto that pitch knowing they had to respond after the disappointment of losing to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, but instead what they got was more pain. Not only did they fall to a 1-0 defeat thanks to a defensive mistake and wasted chances, but they also saw two of their players forced off with injuries that immediately created panic.

The first was Alisson Becker, the reliable Brazilian goalkeeper who has been Liverpool’s wall for many years. When he sprinted back to cover an attack late in the second half, something suddenly went wrong. He pulled up sharply and fell to the ground, grabbing the back of his leg. Every Liverpool fan watching knew instantly that this was serious. Arne Slot also admitted after the game that when Alisson goes down like that, it almost always means the worst. The worst was later confirmed when scans revealed that Alisson had suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out for around six weeks. The sight of Alisson leaving the pitch was one of the darkest moments of the night, but to make matters worse, Hugo Ekitike also had to be taken off after “feeling something” in his leg.

For Slot and the Liverpool fans, it was almost too much to handle in one night. Losing the game was painful, losing Alisson was devastating, but losing a striker like Ekitike as well threatened to completely crush their spirit ahead of Chelsea. The French forward had only just started to find his feet after joining Liverpool in the summer, and the hope was that he could be one of the new stars to take the club into a new era alongside players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. To see him signal to the bench that he couldn’t continue in Istanbul was a nightmare scenario.

After the match, Slot admitted he was very concerned about Ekitike. “I wasn’t really thinking that we had an injury, but Hugo felt something,” he said. “He told me he couldn’t continue, so we had to take him off.” These words sent shockwaves through the Liverpool fanbase. People feared that this could be another long-term problem, and with Chiesa also missing the game through a niggle, Liverpool’s attacking options suddenly looked thin going into one of the toughest away trips of the season.

But now, just days later, the mood has changed. The club has confirmed that Ekitike’s injury is not as bad as first feared, and he will be fit to play against Chelsea. For Slot, this is like getting a lifeline thrown at him just when he was drowning in problems. The French striker trained again and made it clear that he was confident there was no serious damage. It means that when Liverpool walk out at Stamford Bridge, they will have one of their main attackers ready to help them fight for a result.

The contrast between Ekitike and Alisson could not be sharper. While one has been given good news, the other has been struck by another cruel blow. Alisson’s hamstring issue means he will miss at least a month of football, which includes massive games like Manchester United at home, Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Manchester City away. These are matches where Liverpool need their very best players, but now Slot has to prepare for life without his first-choice goalkeeper.

Luckily for the Reds, the club had already started succession planning for the future. In the summer, they spent £29million to bring in Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, a highly-rated Georgian goalkeeper seen by many as one of the brightest young shot-stoppers in Europe. On Tuesday night, he replaced Alisson for the last 35 minutes in Istanbul, and now he is preparing to make his Premier League debut at Stamford Bridge. For Mamardashvili, this is the chance of a lifetime, and for Liverpool, it is a test of whether their investment in the future can pay off much earlier than expected.

Alisson’s injury is another reminder of how fragile football careers can be. The Brazilian has struggled with fitness in recent years, missing 20 Premier League games in the last two seasons due to different issues. Every time he comes back, he reminds everyone why he is still one of the best in the world, but his body keeps betraying him. Slot must now figure out how to keep Liverpool’s title charge alive without him.

Meanwhile, there is also some hope with Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger missed the Galatasaray game due to a small problem, but Slot has confirmed that he should be available for the Chelsea clash. This is another huge relief, because Chiesa’s speed and directness could be very important against a Chelsea defence that has looked shaky in recent weeks. However, the situation is much darker for Giovanni Leoni. The young Italian defender, who was brought in during the summer as a long-term project, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup. He has already undergone surgery and will be out for around a year. It is a devastating setback for a player who was so excited to begin his Liverpool career.

So, as the team prepares for Stamford Bridge, the picture is mixed. On one hand, losing Alisson is a nightmare. On the other, getting Ekitike back is a massive boost. Slot now has some big decisions to make regarding his lineup. Does he trust Mamardashvili to handle the pressure of a game of this size? Does he throw Chiesa straight back in? Does he stick with Alexander Isak up front or give Ekitike the chance to start? These are the questions Liverpool fans are debating nonstop ahead of the clash.

Chelsea themselves are desperate. Enzo Maresca’s team have lost back-to-back Premier League games against Manchester United and Brighton, and they are still searching for consistency. They were able to beat Benfica in the Champions League, but the pressure on them is huge as they prepare to face the reigning champions. Stamford Bridge will be loud, but Liverpool know that if they can silence the crowd early, they can take control.

For Liverpool, this is more than just a game. It is about responding to setbacks, proving their character, and showing that even when injuries strike, they can still compete at the highest level. The return of Ekitike, even if he is not fully fit, sends a message to the dressing room that they are not broken. They still have fight. They still have weapons. And they are not ready to give up.

In football, momentum can shift in a moment. Just a few days ago, Liverpool were drowning in bad news. Now, with Ekitike back and Chiesa close to returning, there is a feeling that maybe, just maybe, they can turn things around at Stamford Bridge. The challenge is massive, but so is the opportunity. If they can win in London, all the pain of the last week will start to fade. And for players like Mamardashvili and Ekitike, this could be the night where their Liverpool careers truly begin.

The whole world will be watchng on Saturday evening. Stamford Bridge will be a battlefield, and for Liverpool, the mission is simple: fight back, stand tall, and remind everyone why they are champions. Injuries may weaken them, but belief can make them stronger. The story of this game could define their season.