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Football London
Football London
Sport
Louie Chandler

Kovacic and Ziyech boost, Lukaku laughs: Three things spotted in Chelsea training for Liverpool

Chelsea will be looking to add another trophy to their collection on Sunday evening when they face Liverpool for the Carabao Cup at Wembley.

The Blues have already swept three pieces of silverware under Thomas Tuchel and after beating Tottenham in the semi-finals they will be determined to add a fourth this weekend.

A 2-0 win against Lille on Tuesday night will have filled them with confidence with Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic finding the net at Stamford Bridge.

The first team were back in training on Friday and football.london has got three key sightings from Cobham.

Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech train

One of the big concerns ahead of the weekend will have been the fitness of first-team stars Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech.

Both players were withdrawn with injury against Lille in midweek and there were fears that both could miss out against Liverpool. But those fears have now been put to bed.

Ziyech and Kovacic both took part in full training and Tuchel confirmed at his press conference that they will be ready to help this weekend.

Reece James boost

Chelsea have not been the same since Reece James injured his hamstring against Brighton at the end of 2021.

The Blues' attack has been badly blunted so there will have been plenty of excitement to see the right-back in training ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup final.

James has had an eye for a goal and an assist this season and a return to action at Wembley could prove a huge help to the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz.

Romelu Lukaku laughs

Lukaku has not had the easiest of times in recent weeks and came in for heavy criticism after mustering just seven touches of the ball against Crystal Palace last Saturday.

He was subsequently dropped to the bench and played no part as the Blues beat Lille on Tuesday night. Kai Havertz is now expected to start ahead of him on Sunday too.

But the 28-year-old remained in high spirits and was pictured laughing with Antonio Rudiger at Cobham on Saturday as Tuchel took his side through their final drills.

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