Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge this weekend in a game that has already been tagged by many fans as one of the defining moments of the early season. The excitement around the fixture is always high when Liverpool meet Chelsea, but this time the tension is even sharper because of the injury problems that Arne Slot’s men are facing and the uncertainty that has hung over the squad since the painful Champions League defeat to Galatasaray in Istanbul.
The story of Liverpool’s build up to this game has been shaped by worry, but also by relief. The biggest talking point before the trip to London has been the condition of Hugo Ekitike. When he went down and had to be substituted in Turkey, many Liverpool fans feared the worst. The sight of the young forward clutching his leg and walking off sparked instant speculation about a muscle injury, something that could have ruled him out for weeks. For a team already struggling with consistency and already short on attacking rhythm, losing Ekitike at this stage would have been a huge blow.
But as the days passed and reports came in from Anfield and from France, the atmosphere slowly shifted from fear to hope. The respected Liverpool journalist Paul Joyce confirmed in The Times that the club believe Ekitike was only suffering from cramp and not a more serious injury. This line gave supporters a sigh of relief. Sometimes football fans don’t realise how big the difference is between cramp and a proper muscle injury until moments like this. Cramp can be managed. Cramp can fade in a few days. A muscle tear can mean a month or two on the sidelines. And for Liverpool, the timing could not be more important.
What makes this news even more reassuring for Liverpool supporters is that Ekitike has been called up to the French national team squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A player carrying a dangerous injury would not have been named in that squad, and that alone shows that the concern is not as heavy as first thought. For Arne Slot, it is not just about having another attacker available. It is about keeping faith with the project that he is building, and about giving Liverpool that extra edge against Chelsea in what is always a tough tactical battle.
But while the story of Ekitike has offered joy, the other big story in this build up has been about Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s number one goalkeeper, the man many call the best in the world. Unlike Ekitike’s positive news, the news about Alisson has been very troubling. In Istanbul, midway through the second half, he pulled up after rushing back to make a save against Victor Osimhen. The hamstring injury meant he had to be substituted in the 56th minute, with Giorgi Mamardashvili coming on to replace him.
This was the kind of moment that shakes a whole team. Alisson is not just a goalkeeper for Liverpool. He is a leader, a calming presence, and the rock on which the defensive line is built. Without him, Liverpool’s backline always looks a little more vulnerable. Even when the defenders are the same, the confidence is not the same when Alisson is not there. His saves, his distribution, his experience in big games—these are things that are very hard to replace.
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Mamardashvili is no ordinary backup goalkeeper. Signed from Valencia for £29 million in the summer, he is highly rated across Europe and is seen as one of the best young goalkeepers in the game. But this is still the Premier League, and making your league debut away at Stamford Bridge against a Chelsea side that will be desperate to punish any weakness is a daunting challenge. For him, it is an opportunity to prove himself, but for Liverpool fans, the fear is clear. Nobody truly replaces Alisson.
Liverpool’s problems do not end there. Injuries and fitness struggles have hit the squad in different positions. Alexis Mac Allister, one of the key midfielders, has not completed a full 90 minutes since April, showing that his body has still not recovered fully to give him the consistency required at the top level. Alexander Isak, who made the big-money move from Newcastle, has also been battling fitness issues, and his transition into Liverpool’s system has been slower than many expected. Florian Wirtz, the record-breaking signing from Germany, is still adapting to the English game and the physical demands of the Premier League.
Then there is the case of Giovanni Leoni. The young defender’s ACL injury on his debut was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the season so far. For a new signing, it is always a dream to make your debut and make an impression. For Leoni, that dream turned into a nightmare within minutes, and now he faces a long road back to recovery. These are the kind of injuries that test not just the body but also the mind. For Liverpool, it means one less option in defence at a time when every squad member is needed.
All of this has come at a time when results have already started to cause concern. After winning the Premier League in his first season in charge, Arne Slot came into this campaign with the expectation that Liverpool would continue to dominate. But football is rarely that simple. Consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray have shown that even strong squads can suffer. As Paul Joyce pointed out, even before the Palace defeat, Liverpool’s results had been better than their actual performances. That is always a warning sign in football. You can scrape wins here and there, but if the performances are not convincing, eventually the cracks will show.
Now the cracks are visible. Supporters know the squad is still in transition. They know that big signings like Wirtz and Isak need time to settle. But at the same time, Liverpool is not a club that accepts patience easily. High-profile players come with high expectations, and every game is judged with the weight of history behind it. At Stamford Bridge, Slot faces the challenge of protecting his new goalkeeper, finding ways to restore confidence to a faltering attack, and also ensuring that his team does not lose its defensive shape.
The return of Ekitike could be the one bright light in this situation. His energy, his movement, his ability to stretch defences—these are qualities that Liverpool badly need right now. Against Chelsea, he could be the spark that turns half-chances into goals. But the truth is that the focus will not only be on attack. Liverpool’s defensive stability, without Alisson, will be under serious scrutiny. Stamford Bridge is not a ground that forgives mistakes easily, and Chelsea will be looking to test Mamardashvili from the first minute.
The bigger picture shows that Liverpool are still in the middle of a rebuild. Slot is trying to shape the team into his own image. Florian Wirtz is expected to come good. Alexis Mac Allister remains central to the midfield when fully fit. Alexander Isak is too talented to not succeed eventually. These are truths that many supporters accept. And of course, Slot has already proven himself with one Premier League title in his debut season. That achievement alone gives him some breathing space, but football is always about what happens next.
For Liverpool fans, this game at Stamford Bridge is not just about three points. It is about resilience. It is about seeing a team that can fight, even when things are not flowing. It is about proving that setbacks do not define them. Ekitike’s availability feels like a small victory in a difficult week. Alisson’s absence feels like a huge test. Mamardashvili’s debut feels like a story waiting to be written. And for Arne Slot, it is another chapter in a journey that is already full of drama, pressure, and expectation.
That is the reality of Liverpool right now. A team in transition. A squad full of talent but also full of challenges. A manager with one title already but with more questions still to answer. Stamford Bridge will not give them any favours. Chelsea will smell weakness and try to exploit it. But sometimes, it is in these moments of struggle that a team shows its true character. And Liverpool, with or without Alisson, will have to show exactly that.
