Chelsea

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Cole Palmer is set for a longer spell on the sidelines after suffering a fractured toe following an accident at home.

The 23-year-old had been due to return to team training this week after two months out with a groin issue, but he has now had an injury set-back after stubbing his toe on a door during the night.

Before the international break, it had been hoped he would be able to feature against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but he will now miss that game, plus Premier League matches against Burnley and leaders Arsenal.

"He is probably not available for Saturday for sure, Barcelona for sure or Arsenal for sure," said boss Enzo Maresca in his pre-match news conference.

Palmer has not played for the Blues since their 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on 20 September.

With the forward now out for some crucial upcoming games, how do you feel about the news? What is the best approach for Maresca to cover Palmer's absence?

Get in touch with your views here

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Burnley at Turf Moor (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "Cole Palmer is probably not available for tomorrow. Unfortunately, he had an accident at home with his toe. But it's nothing important. For sure, he is not back next week. We don't know it's fractured. The only thing we know he is not available for this week and next week."

• Maresca said "I feel much better with Cole on the pitch" but feels Chelsea "need to find solutions" whenever he is unavailable. He emphasised his satisfaction with the collective level the squad has maintained in Palmer's absence.

• On other injuries: "Moi (Caicedo) came back last night, I will see him soon. He is good. Benoit (Badiashile) can be available for tomorrow. Enzo (Fernandez) and Pedro (Neto) used the break to recover their energy and their injuries. They are both available for tomorrow."

• Maresca also disclosed Axel Disasi spent the international break working with the "second team" and supporting the "younger players", a move framed as part of the club's broader development approach rather than a demotion. Maresca reiterated firmly that "Axel and Raheem (Sterling) are Chelsea players," reinforcing the point that both remain firmly in his plans.

• On Estevao: "He is back from international team where he scored two goals. He is very happy, and we are very happy with him."

• More on Palmer's toe problems: "The last time I saw him was yesterday morning, and he was without socks, without flip-flops, without nothing. I don't know how he is today. It was in the changing room. He wasn't limping, he seemed OK, but it's his small toe, so it can be painful. He was very close. He was back with us almost with the groin, which is very good news, but he has this small problem."

• On Malo Gusto: "We said many times that Malo is a main player in the way we want to play. He can play in different positions. We like players that we can be dynamic with. Malo, personally, I consider him a main player for us."

• On Burnley: "It will be a different game (from Wolves). We know that every game is different. Probably tomorrow we need to use different strategies, different weapons. No doubt that it's going to be a tough game, especially after an international break. At 12 in the morning away, it's always a tricky game, and we need to pay attention."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will likely be faced with questions about the return of Cole Palmer ahead of Burnley.

Reports suggest that he may hold his star attacker back from the Saturday lunchtime clash with Barcelona and Arsenal to come next week.

There is also concern about Moises Caicedo's availability given he played two lots of 90 minutes for Ecuador in friendly matches.

Maresca will likely also be asked to clarify whether 'bomb squad' member Axel Disasi has been promoted back into the main squad, with fellow defender Benoit Badiashile also expected back.

Chelsea and Manchester United could provide competition for Porto and Spain forward Samu Aghehowa, 21 (Caught Offside) , external

Liverpool are fighting to keep England youth winger Joshua Abe, with Arsenal and Chelsea both pursuing the 15-year-old. (Mail - subscription required), external

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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One of potentially the biggest moments in English football is coming on Friday, but precious few people understand how important it could be or even know about it.

The Premier League is considering 'anchoring' wages, which would cap the amount any club could spend on their squad at five times the smallest central Premier League broadcasting and prize money payout.

It is a complex argument. The league and some clubs are considering it because they want to ensure wage inflation does not continue to rise endangering their long-term financial security. From the other side - the players and their union, the PFA - this unnaturally limits the amount they can earn in what has until now been a free and open market.

Any changes to that position foisted upon the players without their prior consultation and agreement will not go down well. Remember, the players are the people that the paying public, the TV companies and the advertisers want to see, not a bunch of chairmen, executives and directors arguing over accounts, dividends and profit margins.

The game has increased the number of games played per season without consulting those who are physically doing it. No studies on how that will affect their health in the short and long term were considered, and so the PFA in England looks like it is finally ready to take a strong stand for its members.

Strike ballots are not unknown, I should know, as chairman of the PFA my name was on the bottom of every ballot paper when we last considered strike action over changes in working conditions. The modern owners may have forgotten, but we had 99% backing from our members.

Owners may think of footballers as ultra wealthy, mercenary, thickos who can easily be controlled - well they thought that last time and they lost.

It is time for serious and meaningful negotiation between equals and not a master and serf attitude from one side towards the other.

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

One of the biggest stories of the Premier League season so far is the decline of goals scored in open play and how teams have been scoring more from set-pieces instead.

When we compare how goals have been scored to the first 11 games last season, there have been 39 fewer scored in open play and 26 more from team set-pieces and penalties, giving us 13 fewer overall.

If we look at the bigger picture and the number of shots teams are taking, there have been an incredible 370 fewer in open play than at this stage last time out.

So which teams are most responsible for this change in how goals are scored this season?

The above graph compares how teams have gone up or down in numbers of set-piece and goals from open play compared with the same stage last season.

In terms of goals scored from open play, Wolves have seen by far the biggest decline, scoring just four in 11 games and that is 10 fewer than at this stage last season.

Outside of Wolves, the Premier League's decline in open play goals is very much a London thing, with five of the capital's seven sides scoring at least five goals fewer from open play than last season.

In fairness, that is largely down to them scoring lots of goals at the start of last season rather than them really struggling to score in open play this campaign.

Meanwhile Manchester City have seen the biggest increase, with all but one of their 23 goals scored this season coming in open play.

When it comes to goals scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties), Arsenal and Chelsea have seen the biggest increase, with both sides replacing the five fewer goals that they have scored in open play with the same number from dead-ball situation.

Manchester United have scored twice as many goals from set-pieces as they did in the 11 games before Ruben Amorim took charge last season.

On the flipside, Manchester City do not seem to have got the memo about scoring more from set-pieces because they've scored three fewer than last season, as have Nottingham Forest, although that might be down to the change in style they have tried to implement.

Read more about this season's scoring trends here

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Winger Omari Kellyman is unavailable to play in Cardiff City's EFL quarter-final against Chelsea.

The 20-year-old is currently on loan with the League One side from the west London club.

The Bluebirds made a tentative verbal request to allow Kellyman to play in next month's tie but that has been turned down by the Premier League side.

"That would've been another brilliant opportunity for me but it's a difficult one isn't it," Kellyman said.

"I would've loved to have played. It would've been a great opportunity to play against some world class players so I would've enjoyed that one but it is what it is."

Kellyman moved to Chelsea from Aston Villa for £19 million in June 2024 on a six-year contract.

His first season was hampered with injuries which limited to him only four appearances for Chelsea Under-21s.

Having joined the Bluebirds on loan for the 2025-26 campaign he has appeared 11 times, scoring once.

Cardiff host Chelsea for a place in the sem-finals on Tuesday,16 December (20:00 GMT).

Atletico Madrid have been monitoring Chelsea and Spain left-back Marc Cucurella for months, and are considering making an offer worth 40m euros (£35.3m) for the 27-year-old. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has been told he has a chance to become Denmark's starter at next summer's World Cup if he plays more football.

The number one spot in the national team remains open, but the 23-year-old is yet to start a Premier League match for Enzo Maresca's side.

He has made only one league appearance this season, coming on early against Manchester United after Robert Sanchez's red card, and his involvement has otherwise been limited to two Carabao Cup starts and one Champions League appearance against Ajax.

For a goalkeeper with his ability and international ambitions, that lack of opportunity could prove significant in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

Within Denmark's international set-up, the goalkeeping role is still undecided.

Mads Hermansen has struggled for consistent form at West Ham, while Kasper Schmeichel only saved three of the 14 shots he faced as Denmark drew 2-2 with Belarus and fell to a 4-2 loss against Scotland in a disastrous last two matches of their qualifying campaign.

Those results mean Denmark will now have to navigate the European play-offs in March to secure their spot in next year's tournament.

Jorgensen would be in pole position to start those matches, but only if he plays more football.

Given his talent, age and experience, European clubs could show interest as the January transfer window approaches, especially if he is available on loan.

Any departure would have implications for Chelsea, who have no plans to reduce their goalkeeping depth but could sign a replacement or recall Mike Penders from his successful loan spell at Strasbourg.

Since joining Chelsea from Villarreal in 2024, Jorgensen has made just 28 appearances after arriving as one of Europe's most highly regarded young goalkeepers.

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Which player at your club is flying?: Moises Caicedo's form has been getting better and better pretty much since he arrived at Chelsea, but it has reached a new level this season and it is really getting due appreciation from the media now.

Which player is floundering?: Tosin Adarabioyo has really struggled in his appearances this season and is seemingly now behind Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong in our centre-back hierarchy.

Tactically... I think we look increasingly impressive and defensively well-drilled but we are still lacking in natural chemistry and fluidity, which will take this team to the next level in attack.

I want my manager to give me more... of Josh Acheampong because he has looked great when given the chance, but Enzo Maresca is still very reluctant to start him. The defender has earned more trust than he is getting.

Our fans seem obsessed with... Estevao Willian starting in the Premier League every week because he makes such a positive impact off the bench, but they should be thinking about the fact that he is only 18 years old. He is already racking up more than enough minutes for a player of his age across all competitions. There's no need to rush his integration.

My expectation for the season... was another battle for the top four and we've got one.

Season rating so far: A solid 7/10 - but that's a rating that could change quite dramatically in the next month given the big games to come, for better or for worse.

One sentence on how you're feeling right now: Optimistic that the return of Fofana, Liam Delap and eventually Cole Palmer means that this team will continue to look better and better.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, 24, will remain on loan at Bayern Munich for the rest of the season rather than return to parent club Chelsea in January. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Manchester United turned down Chelsea's offer to include Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia, 21, or France forward Christopher Nkunku, 28, as part of the deal that saw 21-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho join the Blues. (ESPN), external

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Over the past week, we have been asking you to send in the best Premier League XI your club could have put together.

We know football existed before 1992 but as a Leeds United fan asked our experts on the club to name theirs - using the Ask Me Anything form on the Whites - we stuck with their parameters.

Here's BBC Sport's Chelsea fan writer Will's effort.

And you can ask us about the Blues using the Chelsea Ask Me Anything form at the top of this page or here

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Image source, Getty Images

You have been sending your questions in for our Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella:

Michael asked: The next two games, one with Barcelona and another with Arsenal, are true tests for Maresca's system and the Chelsea team. What do you see as critical factors that would lead Chelsea to two wins? If the team fails both tests, would you say that Maresca's tenure at the club is over?

Nizaar: I understand that some fans remain unconvinced by Enzo Maresca, even after the Club World Cup win, but I don't believe defeats to Barcelona and Arsenal would be viewed as a major internal issue. Chelsea are taking a long-term approach and will assess Maresca's performance at the end of the season. Even with those losses, he would still be in a position to secure a top-four finish and qualification for at least the play-off round of the Champions League knockout stages. That said, such results may prompt external questions about Maresca or the project more widely.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you to send in your Blues-related questions and put a selection of them to our Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella:

Daffa asked: What's one internal decision at Chelsea this season (in data, squad management, or sports science) that has quietly shaped the team more than anything fans actually see on the pitch?

Nizaar: I think the whole BlueCo project has settled into place over the past 12 months, highlighted by Chelsea moving from having the worst injury record in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons to one of the best. That came despite the club competing on five fronts last season. From what I've seen, the medical department has been very good. Chelsea have also improved on attacking set pieces, though not on defending them, which may be linked to the work of set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva.

Boaz asked: Yesterday we saw pictures of Axel Disasi with the main team, is he back with the team?

Nizaar: I reported last week that Disasi is being rewarded for good behaviour behind the scenes and increased involvement at Chelsea. He has played for the Under-21s and trained with the first-team squad. That opens the door to some minutes at senior level, but he remains for sale in January, and we should not forget that Benoit Badiashile is close to a return, which will further limit his opportunities.

Read more of Nizaar's answers on this page shortly

Image source, Getty Images

We had you send in questions and for our Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella:

Jon asked: Do you think that the squad rotation from week to week stifles the Chelsea performance? The defence in particular seems to be the most affected.

Nizaar: I can see why Chelsea are rotating so heavily, and their argument is that it will pay off in the long run, as reported here. It is important to note that this is a club-wide strategy, not merely a whim of Enzo Maresca. However, I agree that the weakness in the process lies in defensive rotation. That may be due, in part, to none of the central defenders making themselves un-droppable. Overall, Chelsea are performing well this season. Maresca has made wholesale changes against lesser opposition and, generally, they have worked well enough. But the winter period will present an even greater challenge in that regard.

Andy asked: What is happening with the front-of-shirt sponsor? Since the takeover we have been missing a long term one, and in the era of PSR it's huge wasted income. There are rumours of an announcement soon, but what's going on here?

Nizaar: Yes, you're right. Being sponsorless has almost become the default for Chelsea, aside from the bulk of a season with AI analytics firm Infinite Athlete and a brief spell at the end of last season with the property company Damac. There have been rumours about Oracle becoming Chelsea's main sponsor. However, official sources still say it is an open, ongoing process involving multiple potential partners.

Oracle is certainly the type of company Chelsea would like to work with – a strong, blue-chip brand – but only on a long-term basis and at around £55m per season. For now, all I can say is that the process remains ongoing, and it is still unclear when the club will announce a deal.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

I can't resist a line about Chelsea's winger Estevao, he really is exceptional. Only a tiny number of players can produce this particular special effect. If you get a chance whether at Stamford Bridge, or while watching a game on TV, close your eyes and listen to the sound of the crowd when Estevao gets the ball in the final third.

It is the purified sound of expectation, excitement and support from an entire stadium. Very few can make that happen just by getting the ball.

‌It is probably best to shut your eyes when watching it back on record as you might just miss yet another incredibly imaginative piece of brilliance from the wonderkid if you try this approach live.

‌He was at it again for Brazil against Senegal at the weekend. I'd pay to watch him warm up and while he might not be the best player in the Premier League (...yet), he may well already be the most enjoyable to watch.

‌Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid are set to enter a bidding war for Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz after contract talks between the 20-year-old Turkey international and the Turin club stalled. (Caughtoffside), external

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We have, roughly, run the numbers and here is the XI your submissions have produced.

Not much room for argument with the spine of this team. Petr Cech, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba made the majority of your selections.

A fair bit of debate over right-back but Reece James nips in while Cole Palmer just made it into more teams than Gianfranco Zola, although don't expect him to or Hazard to stick rigidly to either side of the attack.

Spare a thought for opposition midfielders as well, hunted down by both Claude Makelele and N'Golo Kante.

Premier League title incoming for this formidable team?

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The statistics might say playing at home is an advantage - but what happens when it is not?

So far this season, 53% of Premier League matches have been won by the home team - the highest ever rate in a single campaign.

On the flip side, just 26% have been won by the away team - the lowest rate since 2010-11.

However, this has not been the case for all teams.

For some, being on the road has been more favourable. Tottenham are perhaps the most contrasting example having the joint-most points away from home with 13, but the second-worst in front of their own fans with just five points.

In the second part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "With crowds when playing away from home, there is a reduced scrutiny as a whole for away teams in that those crowds expect the home team to be the ones in charge. The players feel less judged. The pressure is on the other side.

"Another reason could come down to something in psychology I like to call simplification of the task. The team has a better collective identity when they are away.

"The human brain still goes back to the cavemen days. We have to, as a collective, fight for something. We have to protect our name. It goes back to that hunter-gatherer-against-danger mentality.

"When players are in front of a home crowd, there can be a bit of playing up to the individuality.

"I really do believe that collective identity has a strong enough influence because it amplifies the purpose and the belonging - let's belong together, let's be stronger together."

The focus might be on the players' performances being impacted by being home or away, but what about the managers?

Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest make up three of the bottom four for their home records so far this term, and all have changed their manager in recent weeks.

"100% managers and coaches can be affected, and sometimes even more so because there is so much riding on that one person," Cartwright said.

"The decision-making is the main thing. The crowd is chanting - 'take this player off, do this' - and it can lead to rushed decisions, particularly when the noise becomes relentless.

"Then there is the emotional regulation and touchline behaviour. A manager is pacing up and down, mirroring the stress state, and players see that. It can lead to mimicking and players feeling that stress too."

The impact on teams psychologically playing home or away is apparent, so how can they make the most from these different conditions?

"Our brains are wired to think negatively - it's a protection mechanism," Cartwright said.

"So when it comes to performing home and away, those players and managers who deal with it best are those who know how to use the noise and scrutiny and move on quickly from it - an ability to have a reset routine and regulate their emotions in these pressurised situations."

Read more from Marie in part one of her chat around the impact of playing at home here

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has revealed that he was interviewed for two Premier League jobs in the space of two hours last year.

The Danish manager was in high demand during his time at Brentford, and eventually chose to swap Gtech Community Stadium for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after seven years of service.

Read the full article here

Chelsea's Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, 24, has no intention of cutting short his season-long loan move to Bayern Munich in order to seal a permanent move elsewhere in January. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

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"Home advantage gives you an advantage."

It is a quote - among many - attributed to the famous former England manager Sir Bobby Robson - a simple, yet fair reflection of a historical format of football.

For as long as teams have played in leagues, games taking place home and away has been the norm, with the idea that playing at home will be to the benefit of that team.

But what is the impact of playing at your own ground in front of your own fans?

In the first part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "Home impact can be viewed in two ways. Sometimes it does have a positive impact, and what happens is there is an elevated motivation.

"What that means is the crowd energy increases adrenaline and that creates a momentum in effort and intensity in the players. It is also a familiar environment for the players, so that means it reduces the cognitive load. They don't have to think as much about anything else other than their play because they know the pitch, they know the routines, they feel settled.

"However, there are a couple of potential negative impacts as well, with the potential intensification in pressure in the home fans, most times, expecting dominance from the home team. That can lead to mistakes from players feeling bigger to them.

"There can then be what we call a threat state. The players might perceive consequences as high, so they feel they might be facing more criticism when they are at home."

While those who watch football know there are more factors than just where the match is being to take into consideration, the statistics do suggest the influence is there.

Since the Premier League started, the home win percentage has outweighed the away win percentage in all bar one season - the Covid-hit 2020-21 campaign in which fans were largely not allowed admission saw a 38% home win rate compared to 40% away win rate.

So how a team handles this additional crowd pressure seems to be a key factor.

"In psychology, there is something called the challenge and threat theory," Cartwright said.

"In reality what that means is a 'challenge state' can push the player into thinking, 'I've got this, I've got the resources to cope with this'. That leads to better decision making and quicker reactions.

"The threat state, on the other hand, players might think the consequences outweigh their ability to cope. In any match context, that can mean they have a narrow sense of focus, the focus is not quite the same, so the play becomes slower because of overthinking."

"It can also be called 'red brain or blue brain' - with red brain being the one with fear-based dialogue and internal negative self-talk, while blue brain is the cool, calm and collected one that can handle its emotions.

"What sits in the middle of these is distraction. How a player responds to distraction and filters out the noise, like the crowd, can impact which of these mindsets they move into and ultimately how the team performs."

Read more from Marie in part two of her chat about why teams some teams play better away from home and how it impacts managers - that will be on this page early next week.