Chelsea: Xabi Alonso explains Maxence Lacroix injury as star forced off against Liverpool

Xabi Alonso has said it is too soon to know how the severity of Maxence Lacroix’s injury after he was forced off in the first-half of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool.

The match was level at 1-1 at the time of the Frenchman’s injury, thanks to a pair of spot-kicks from Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo. The Blues were ultimately eliminated after a penalty shootout.

Lacroix pulled up shortly after the Liverpool equaliser as he chased Gakpo through the centre of the park.

He went down off the ball shortly thereafter and received treatment before being hauled off to be replaced by Levi Colwill.

Lacroix hobbled back to the changing rooms at a snail’s pace, clutching the back of his left thigh as he conversed with the club’s trainers, bearing a concerned expression all the way.

It is a fresh fitness blow for the Blues, who were already without Joao Pedro, Reece James and Jamie Gittens as they headed north to Liverpool. Cole Palmer missed the match through suspension.

Lacroix has been a fixture for Chelsea this season. He signed from Crystal Palace in the summer and has gone on to appear in all eight of their Premier League matches so far, as well as both of the Carabao Cup fixtures thus far.

Speaking at full time, Alonso said of Lacroix’s injury: “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.”