One of the foundations of Chelsea’s good start to the season in the Premier League has been the consistency of selection from Enzo Maresca.
The Chelsea boss has been able to pick the same team, week in week out. He’s largely only made tweaks when he’s wanted to, rather than when his hand has been forced. Today is different – he has two defenders from his regular back 4 out suspended. And Maresca has shocked everyone with his selection.
Given he has an established A team and B team, it was expected that B team left back Renato Veiga would step up to play instead of the suspended Marc Cucurella. But instead, Maresca has switched first team right back Malo Gusto to the left, and brought in Reece James to start.
James has not played a competitive minute this season, having picked up an injury right at the end of preseason. He’s been training on the grass for a while, and rejoined team training this week – but we still thought at best he’d get a spot on the bench. Instead he’s thrown in at the deep end with a start at Anfield.
James fitness a gamble worth taking
James has shown time and again over the years that he’s very capable of coming back from injury and finding his level right away – but this is still a huge ask. There’s no way he will play 90 minutes, but it’s a great show of faith in his ability from manager Enzo Maresca, who has yet to get a chance to use his captain in a competitive game.
As always, our fingers will be crossed that James makes it through this game unscathed. It’s a risk – but we were always going to need to take risks to win a game like this, and we’re all in favour of it. Even if we just get 45 minutes of the right back at his best, that could be enough.