Premier League: Will Chelsea struggle with Lukaku and Werner out?

Chelsea’s outstanding 4-0 victory over Malmö came at a massive cost on Wednesday night as both Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner came off due to injuries.

On a night that resulted in Chelsea overcoming their Swedish opponents, Thomas Tuchel was forced to replace Lukaku and Timo Werner after they both suffered injuries before halftime.

One question remains to be answered: Will Tuchel and Chelsea struggle to make an impact in their next games?

Tuchel mentioned to reporters after the game the gravity of his key players’ situation:

"Romelu twisted his ankle with the foul in the box and Timo has a hamstring injury.It will take a while for both of them. We need more examinations to be more precise but they will be out for some matches."

“Some matches” can mean possibly two to five weeks for both, perhaps even more if we assume that that can include at least six to eight scheduled matches; the club has not confirmed the severity of their respective times on the sideline.

Chelsea’s upcoming schedule and how will they cope?

The question might be answered based on Chelsea’s upcoming schedule. The Blues host Norwich City who are at the bottom of the Premier League table. One good thing about this matchup is that Chelsea has not lost against Norwich in their last ten matches, outscoring them 20-8.

Following their game against Norwich, Chelsea will face Southhampton in the EFL Cup at Stamford Bridge. They will visit Newcastle United for their Premier League matchup, then fly out to Sweden where they’ll meet Malmö for their next UCL match. The Blues will then host Burnley before playing a big match against Leicester City on Nov. 20.

Following this series of matches, Chelsea will face their biggest challenges which includes Juventus and Manchester United. Only time will tell if Lukaku and Werner could potentially be match-fit by that time frame.

Injuries give others the chance to shine at Stamford Bridge

Having Lukaku and Werner injured can spark up an opportunity for Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi to become the starlets of the squad. In his 56 appearances for Chelsea, Havertz has found the back of the net a total of 11 times. This injury spell could help him become the player he was brought in to be.

Hudson-Odoi has not made an appearance for the England National team since 2019. The opportunity to feature more frequently for The Blues and put on star performances might influence Garret Southgate to call him up to the squad after he turned down the opportunity to play with the Under-21 team in August.

Tuchel has a relatively easy schedule ahead, but it may be difficult if his players don’t perform. Lukaku and Werner left big holes in the attacking front; it is now time for the rest of the squad to step up to the task.