According to a report by Metro on Saturday October 31, 2026, Chelsea have been dealt a major injury setback, with defender Maxence Lacroix facing the possibility of missing the rest of 2026 after suffering a serious hamstring injury.

The former Crystal Palace centre-back picked up the problem during Chelsea's Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool on Wednesday, October 28.

Lacroix was forced off shortly before half-time after pulling up while attempting to track Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo. The Frenchman immediately signalled to the bench after experiencing discomfort.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso had already confirmed that the defender would miss Saturday's Premier League meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, as well as next week's fixture against Sunderland.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Alonso said: "Max picked up an injury and we expect he is not going to be ready before the international break. He will be a few weeks out."

However, a report by talkSPORT has suggested that Lacroix's injury is more serious than initially feared, with the defender reportedly suffering a grade-three hamstring tear.

Such an injury can take between eight and 12 weeks to heal, raising concerns that he could be unavailable until after Christmas and into the New Year.

The reported recovery period could see Lacroix miss around 10 matches, including important Premier League encounters against Liverpool and Manchester City in December.

His potential absence would represent a significant blow for Alonso, considering how important he has become to Chelsea since joining from Crystal Palace during the summer transfer window.

The 26-year-old has established himself as a regular member of the starting lineup, playing the full 90 minutes in seven of Chelsea's first eight Premier League matches.

He has also accumulated more playing time than any other player in the squad and started every game in Chelsea's Carabao Cup campaign before suffering the injury against Liverpool.

Lacroix's setback adds to Chelsea's growing injury concerns, with Joao Pedro also expected to spend several weeks on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury last week.

Reece James remains another absentee as he continues his recovery from minor knee surgery.

Alonso will now have to find solutions to his defensive problems as Chelsea prepare for a demanding run of fixtures. The manager will be particularly concerned about losing a player who has quickly become an important part of his plans.

Although Chelsea have not officially confirmed that Lacroix will miss the remainder of the year, the latest report has raised fears that his return could be delayed until 2027.