The injuries Petr Cech and John Terry suffered Tuesday will leave Chelsea both short-handed and short-footed when it visits Liverpool for a crucial Premier League game Sunday.
Cech suffered a dislocated shoulder 15 minutes into Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid. Chelsea defender teammate David Luiz sent Atletico Madrid’s Raul Garcia tumbling into Cech as he attempted to save a corner kick, undercutting the Chelsea goalkeeper’s legs and causing him to land on his right arm.
It often takes two to three months for a dislocated shoulder to heal, and Cech will miss the remainder of Chelsea’s season.
Terry left the game on a stretcher after he suffered an apparent ankle injury in the 69th minute. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the injury will sideline Terry for at least a few weeks.
“Petr Cech’s season is over,” Mourinho said, according to the BBC. “Don’t ask me technically, but season over.
“And John — we have to play the final (on May 24) for him to play with us.”
Second-place Chelsea trails league leader Liverpool by five points with three games remaining in the 2013-14 Premier League season. The Blues will be without two of their key players when they visit Anfield in a potential Premier League title decider Sunday.
Cech’s 41-year-old backup, Mark Schwarzer, will start in goal.
Terry has started 33 of Chelsea’s 35 league games this season. Luiz will likely partner Gary Cahill in the center of Chelsea’s defense.
Terry and Cech’s absences will almost certainly have a negative effect, as Chelsea looks to stop the Premier League’s most potent attack.
