Evening Standard
·31 January 2025
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·31 January 2025
Enzo Maresca could be forced into decision in key area
Chelsea will remain without midfielder Romeo Lavia for Monday night’s Premier League meeting with West Ham.
Having only just returned from a hamstring injury suffered in December, Lavia has missed the Blues’s last two Premier League games with a fresh problem.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Maresca confirmed that the Belgian remains out, along with long-term absentees Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana.
“Exactly the same as the last game,” Maresca said of his team news. “Wes [Fofana] is out, Romeo [Lavia] is out and Benoit [Badiashile] is out. The rest are okay."
Maresca is considering whether to axe goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after the Spaniard made high-profile errors in back-to-back games against Wolves and Manchester City last week.
Should he do so, No2 Filip Jorgensen could make only his third Premier League start since signing from Villarreal last summer.
Noni Madueke, meanwhile, will hope to keep his place on the wing ahead of Pedro Neto, having scored in back-to-back league games.
Chelsea predicted XI: Jorgensen; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Injured: Lavia, Fofana, Badiashile
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Monday 3 February 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
TV channel and live stream: Sky Sports