Mykhailo Mudryk is on the bench for Chelsea’s match at Liverpool (Photo: Getty)
Graham Potter has explained his somewhat controversial decision to bench Mykhailo Mudryk for Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool.
The Blues take on the Reds at Anfield on Saturday in what is a pivotal clash for both sides who have struggled for form this season.
Chelsea fans were no doubt hoping to see Mudryk make his debut in the starting XI having joined the club last Sunday for £88.5million – the second most expensive signing in the club’s history.
But the Ukraine winger was named on the bench as Potter made just one change from the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Marc Cucurella coming in for Carney Chukwuemeka.
That leaves a front-three of Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount.
Chelsea have struggled for goals this season and many fans expected that Mudryk, who had 10 goals and eight assists for Shakhtar Donetsk this season before his transfer, would walk straight into the team.
Prior to kick-off, Potter was asked why the 22-year-old wasn’t in the starting XI and explained: ‘He can play the back end of the game. He has not played much recently but he has been training.’
Graham Potter has made a big call not to start Mudryk (Photo: Getty)
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, the manager had hinted that he wouldn’t start, saying: ‘There’s a chance he could make his debut. It’s how much he can do. I think 90 minutes no, but there’s probably a role for him at some stage in the game.
‘He’s obviously come from a mid-season break so hasn’t played so much football recently, but has been training well, so we’ll assess him and see how much he can play at the weekend.
‘He’s settled in really good. He’s a young player, an exciting player, fantastic speed one-v-one, can attack the back line. Now we’ve just got to help him adapt to the Premier League, adapt to us.
‘You’ve just got to help him understand and help everyone understand that he’s coming from a different country, a different league, so he has to adapt.’
Meanwhile, in his 1,000th game as a manager, Jurgen Klopp makes three changes to his Liverpool side that beat Wolves 1-0 in the FA Cup.
Alisson, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah come into the starting line-up, replacing Caoimhin Kelleher, Konstantinos Tsimikas and Fábio Carvalho.
MORE : Frank Leboeuf shares concern over Kalidou Koulibaly and makes Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction
MORE : Graham Potter explains the real reason why Marc Cucurella is struggling at Chelsea
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Chelsea fans were hoping to see the £88.5m winger start at Anfield.
