Chelsea hatch Mohamed Salah plan as Enzo Maresca turns to versatile star after double blow
Chelsea will be without several of their defenders for the trip to Liverpool at the weekend with Enzo Maresca ready to turn to his versatile summer signing in an effort to stifle Mohamed Salah
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is ready to utilise Renato Veiga at left-back for this Sunday's game with Liverpool as the summer signing is tasked with keeping Mohamed Salah quiet.
The Blues boss has been hit with an availability crisis ahead of the trip to Anfield, where the Blues will look to underline their credentials after an impressive start to the campaign. Marc Cucurella, the usual left-back, is suspended after recently picking up a fifth yellow card.
Wesley Fofana too is suspended and whilst Levi Colwill can deputise on the left of defence it looks as if Veiga will be given the chance to showcase his qualities.
Chelsea haven't lost in the Premier League since they were beaten on the opening weekend of the season against Manchester City. Against Liverpool though they face the pacesetters and Salah himself has enjoyed a strong personal record against Chelsea.
Since returning to England with the Reds the Egyptian has scored seven times against the west Londoners, who sold him back in 2014. Maresca's side will need to keep Salah quiet if they are to achieve a result at Anfield and land just a third clean sheet of the season.
Veiga was a low-profile signing during the summer, costing them just £12million as he made the move from Basel. He has become a regular under Maresca though, playing in the 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow and scoring in the 4-2 Conference League win over Gent.
Those displays have also seen Portugal manager Roberto Martinez hand him his international debut in their 3-1 Nations League victory against Poland on Saturday, where he played at centre-back, further highlighting his versatility.
Maresca said recently: "He played like an attacking midfielder. He was playing in the pocket for the first time this season for us. He did very well. You never imagine Renato arrive in the box and score with a header from a cross on the other side. When we needed him as a holding midfielder against Bournemouth, he was there. The other day against Brighton he was a full-back. The good thing is that he is versatile."
Chelsea haven't beaten Liverpool in their last nine meetings across all competitions. Their last success came courtesy of a Mason Mount winner at Anfield back in 2021.
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