Chelsea winger Estevão Willian was again overlooked for a starting role during the club’s Carabao Cup encounter against Liverpool at Anfield, extending a difficult spell in which he has started only twice this season and has yet to begin a Premier League match.

According to a report by The Chelsea Chronicle on Thursday, 29 October 2026, the Brazilian’s limited involvement has raised questions, particularly as Chelsea look for attacking solutions during a demanding run of fixtures. However, manager Xabi Alonso’s selection decisions appear to reflect several considerations, including competition for places, the winger’s recovery from injury and the tactical responsibilities required in Chelsea’s system.

One major obstacle for Estevão is the quality of the players competing for attacking positions. Alonso has frequently used a 3-4-2-1 formation, which provides space for three advanced players, making opportunities in the starting line-up difficult to secure.

João Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer have all strengthened their claims for regular selection through their performances. Pedro has contributed five Premier League goals and three assists, while Rogers has scored four times. Palmer also remains an important part of Chelsea’s attacking plans when available.

The Liverpool cup match appeared to offer an opportunity for rotation, particularly because Palmer was suspended. Nevertheless, Estevão was not selected from the start, indicating that the competition for attacking places may not fully explain his reduced role.

His physical condition could also be influencing Alonso’s approach. Estevão suffered a significant hamstring injury towards the end of last season, and the manager has acknowledged that the club continues to consider the effects of that setback.

Speaking to The Standard, Alonso explained that the intensity of English football requires players to be physically prepared and noted that Estevão was still progressing through his recovery. The comments suggest Chelsea are being careful about the winger’s workload rather than rushing him into a demanding sequence of starts.

That cautious approach could mean his opportunities increase gradually as he builds fitness and adapts to the physical demands of the Premier League. However, his injury history may remain a factor in decisions about how many minutes he can safely manage.

Tactical considerations provide another possible explanation. Estevão and Pedro Neto can both operate on the right side of the attack, but Neto’s versatility may make him particularly useful within Alonso’s system. The Portuguese international has played as a wing-back, although the manager has described him primarily as a winger capable of performing that additional role.

Neto’s ability to contribute in both attacking and defensive situations could give him an advantage when Chelsea require width, pressing and support for the back line. Alonso may therefore prioritise players who can fulfil several responsibilities within his formation.

However, questions about Estevão’s defensive contribution should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of poor work rate. Statistics from FotMob cited in the original report indicate that the Brazilian covered an average of 10.6 kilometres per 90 minutes last season, compared with Neto’s 10 kilometres, and recorded a higher running distance.

Those figures offer a useful comparison of overall movement, but they cannot independently establish how effectively either player presses opponents, tracks runners or maintains defensive positioning. Tactical suitability involves more than the distance covered during a match.

For now, Estevão’s limited starting opportunities appear to reflect a combination of strong competition, careful workload management and the demands of Alonso’s tactical system. His attacking ability remains an important asset, but securing a regular place will require him to convince the manager that he can deliver consistently while meeting the team’s responsibilities both with and without possession.