Chelsea have been dealt a potentially huge blow ahead of their clash with Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp's side are set to welcome the Blues to Anfield on Saturday afternoon as Graham Potter plots a late push for top-four in the Premier League.
Both sides head into the clash sitting on 28 points, with only an eight-goal difference separating Liverpool and Chelsea from ninth and 10th in the table, respectively. The west Londoners will be keen to build upon their first win in four games after a Kai Havertz header claimed three points from Crystal Palace.
Potter will be hoping that the 23-year-old can repeat his impressive performance this weekend and, again, provide the cutting-edge to Chelsea's attack. Havertz has found the net six times for the Blues this season as he continues to grow into the No.9 role despite, naturally, being an attacking midfielder.
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But, the Germany international may not have the chance to continue his promising vein of form. In footage filmed by Football Daily, Havertz was not pictured at Chelsea squad training at Cobham, casting doubt over his availability for the Liverpool tie.
With the German potentially on the sidelines this weekend, Potter has a wealth of options to step in and replace him. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the obvious alternative, although David Datro Fofana could be a wildcard choice.
It remains to be seen why Havertz was not seen in training for Chelsea ahead of the Liverpool clash. Speaking to the BBC after the Blues win over Palace, the German admitted that the last few weeks have been difficult while also taking responsibility for the club's lack of goals.
"The last few weeks were tough. For everyone at the club, it is not easy under these circumstances," Havertz said. "A lot of things changed this year. We have so many injuries, 10-12 injured players.
"Today we had five young players in the starting XI, they are doing a really good job at the moment. I think I was in a good spot. Hakim [Ziyech] gave me a lot of good balls. I play in the No. 9 position and I take the responsibility to score more goals, We as a team need to score more goals. I will do my best to help the team."
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