According to a report by Football London on Thursday October 29, 2026, Chelsea have suffered a potential injury setback ahead of their Premier League clash against Manchester United after defender Maxence Lacroix picked up a suspected hamstring problem.

The £52 million centre-back sustained the injury during Chelsea’s Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool, raising doubts over his availability for Saturday’s encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso admitted that it was too early to determine the severity of the problem but confirmed that the defender had experienced discomfort in his hamstring.

“Too early to tell. Probably he felt something on the hamstrings. And we need a couple of days to check what’s going to be the injury,” Alonso said.

Chelsea will be hoping that further medical examinations provide positive news, although the short turnaround before the Manchester United fixture leaves little time for Lacroix to recover.

The defender’s potential absence would be another concern for Alonso, with Chelsea already without several players, including goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, defender Reece James and forward Joao Pedro.

The Blues will also be looking to bounce back after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League before being eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Liverpool on penalties.

Meanwhile, Manchester United head into the fixture under pressure following a disappointing run of results that has left manager Michael Carrick facing questions about his future.

United are currently 16th in the Premier League table, and a positive result at Stamford Bridge would be important for Carrick as he attempts to ease the pressure on his position.

There is some encouragement for United, with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo returning to training this week. However, striker Benjamin Sesko is expected to remain sidelined until January.

Chelsea will hope Lacroix’s injury is not serious, but his availability for Saturday’s showdown remains uncertain as both teams prepare for an important Premier League encounter.