Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that the club will need a couple of days to determine the severity of Maxence Lacroix’s hamstring injury, which forced the defender off during Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool at Anfield.
The French centre-back appeared to be in considerable discomfort before being substituted at half-time, with Levi Colwill coming on to replace him. Alonso admitted after the match that it was too early to establish the full extent of the problem.
Lacroix’s injury added to a disappointing evening for Chelsea, who were eliminated from the competition following a penalty shootout defeat. Morgan Rogers had given the Blues the lead from the spot, but Liverpool responded through Cody Gakpo’s penalty just three minutes later.
Neither side could find a winner during normal time, leaving the tie to be decided by penalties, where Liverpool ultimately prevailed.
Alonso also addressed the second-half substitutions of Moises Caicedo and Malo Gusto, who both left the pitch after 68 minutes. Valentin Barco and Marco Palestra were introduced in their place as Chelsea managed the physical demands of the contest.
According to the Chelsea boss, Caicedo experienced some discomfort, while Gusto was struggling with cramps. The intensity of the encounter also contributed to the decision to make changes.
Despite the concerns, Alonso did not suggest that either player had suffered a serious injury, offering some hope that the pair could avoid a spell on the sidelines.
Chelsea will now await further medical assessments on Lacroix, with the results expected to provide a clearer picture of his condition in the coming days. His availability for the Blues’ upcoming fixtures will depend on the outcome of those examinations.