João Pedro Starts! Did Injury Fears REALLY Ground Him From Brazil?

Chelsea striker João Pedro started against Liverpool this past weekend, raising eyebrows after being left out of the Brazil squad due to a supposed “minor physical problem.” Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti cited the injury as the reason for his exclusion, opting to call up Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest instead.

Ancelotti's Explanation

Ancelotti stated, "João Pedro had a small physical problem and isn't 100%. We prefer that he recovers calmly during this international break and returns to his best level. It's a physical problem."

However, João Pedro's appearance in Chelsea's starting lineup against Liverpool immediately before the international break casts doubt on the severity of the injury. He even played in Chelsea's Champions League victory over Benfica prior to the squad announcement, although he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Liverpool Line-Up Confirmed

Liverpool made several changes for the match against Chelsea. Giorgi Mamardashvili replaced the injured Alisson Becker in goal for his Premier League debut. Other changes included Conor Bradley in defence, and the return of Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister, and Mohamed Salah to the starting formation.

Chelsea's Recent Form

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed the press before the Liverpool match, acknowledging the team's good start to the season in terms of performance and points, but admitting they are currently struggling to find their rhythm. He noted the impact of red cards and injuries on the team's performance. Chelsea has suffered recent expulsions with Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah and João Pedro himself being sent off in recent matches.

Maresca commented on the red cards: "You have to analyse case by case. When it's a red card for bad intention or for bad discipline, it's different compared to the red card against United or Brighton... We analyse case by case. Again, I don't see any discipline problem."