Chelsea, Liverpool, Crystal Palace Face Injury Challenges Before Season Start

As the Premier League season kicks off, Chelsea secured a 4-1 win over AC Milan but faced injury concerns with Trevoh Chalobah suffering an ankle twist; however, manager Enzo Maresca confirmed Chalobah and Wesley Fofana should be fit for the opener against Crystal Palace, though Romeo Lavia remains sidelined with a muscle issue. Crystal Palace, preparing for their first competitive match under Oliver Glasner, are dealing with injuries to players including Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure, while captain Marc Guehi remains a key figure amid transfer speculation. Liverpool, fresh from winning the Premier League, will face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley with some injury absences such as Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley, but Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have returned to the squad. Liverpool manager Arne Slot noted that Alexis Mac Allister is regaining fitness after missing significant pre-season time. Key players to watch in the Community Shield include Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, with betting odds highlighting their goal-scoring potential. Both teams are aiming to build momentum ahead of their Premier League campaigns, with Liverpool looking to extend their success and Crystal Palace hoping to capitalize on their recent FA Cup triumph.