Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring against Gent(Image: Marc Atkins)

Christopher Nkunku has already sent Enzo Maresca Chelsea message ahead of big Liverpool decision

Christopher Nkunku scored a beautiful goal against Liverpool last season in the 4-1 defeat at Anfield and the Chelsea forward will be hoping to get another chance on Merseyside at the weekend

14 Oct 2024, 06:00 by Bobby Vincent · football.london

Cast your mind back to the end of January earlier in the year. Liverpool were running rampant against an out-of-sorts Chelsea team at Anfield. Four-nil to the hosts but there was still time for Christopher Nkunku to produce a moment of magic.

After a strong run from Carney Chukwuemeka, the English midfielder laid the ball off to Nkunku, who touched the ball with his left foot inside the box while having numerous Liverpool players around him but the Frenchman still managed to swivel to find an angle on goal. It was still a difficult finish but one swing of his left foot caught Alisson Becker out, with the ball finding the bottom right corner.

It was merely a consolation goal from the 26-year-old but it was a reminder to the Chelsea supporters of the talent they have in Nkunku. The fans needed it, too, with that being just Nkunku's fifth appearance for the club in what was a season riddled with numerous injury problems.

This season, though, there is no question over Nkunku and his ability in front of goal. In 11 appearances at the start of this season, the France international who scored his first goal for Les Bleus against Israel last week, has netted seven goals - but yet he cannot get into Enzo Maresca's side.

Nicolas Jackson, unfortunately for Nkunku, has also started the season very well for the Blues. The 23-year-old striker has bagged four goals in eight games in all competitions - and should have even more to his name. Maresca, as it stands, trusts Jackson to lead the line in Premier League matches, while Nkunku has made just one start in the top-flight.

Going into the next game at Liverpool, though, Nkunku has already proven he can score at Anfield - even when his team are under the cosh. It may not enter Maresca's thinking at all but having someone as clinical as Nkunku has been this season up front in a game where opportunities may be few and far between could well be the move.

Elsewhere, there will certainly be two changes to the line-up with Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana both suspended for the match after picking up their fifth yellow cards in the Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest before the international break. Renato Veiga is expected to come in at left-back while Tosin Adarabioyo is set to replace Fofana alongside Levi Colwill.

The team elsewhere is expected to stay mostly the same way. The one big decision, though, comes up front. Whether it is Jackson or Nkunku, Chelsea will go to Anfield full of confidence.

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