Chelsea fans are making the same point on the first Reece James performance of the season against Liverpool
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!When Chelsea’s lineup for their clash against Liverpool was revealed on Sunday, there were some surprises, particularly in the inclusion of Reece James. The club captain had only recently recovered from injury, yet Enzo Maresca didn’t hesitate to start him at Anfield. James, however, was substituted in the second half, as Maresca had never intended for him to play the full 90 minutes. Similarly, Romeo Lavia, another player who’s been plagued by injury this season, also featured in the lineup.
Despite these fitness concerns, Lavia didn’t show any signs of rust. The midfielder put on a solid performance that left Chelsea fans impressed and hopeful.
Chelsea Fans Thrilled to See Reece James Back in Action
While Lavia’s display was notable, Reece James also earned praise for his performance. Fans couldn’t hide their excitement at having their captain back on the pitch. Many took to social media to voice their admiration for his efforts before both he and Lavia were subbed off.
One fan, @Santoss_CFC, wrote: “Very happy with the Reece James I saw yesterday. Crosses, long balls, calming pressure with his ball-controlling ability. We’ve missed him.” Another, @SirJerry_cfc, echoed those sentiments, tweeting: “That was a captain’s performance from Reece James after being out for such a long time. Glad to have you back.” And @Mohitra53639147 simply put it: “Reece James is just different class.”
Former USA international Janusz Michallik weighed in as well, remarking that Maresca showed courage in starting James at such a high-stakes match against Liverpool. Fortunately for the Chelsea boss, his decision paid off as James finished the game without further injury.
Will Reece James Start Against Newcastle United?
Chelsea’s next Premier League fixture pits them against Newcastle United. Before that, they have a Conference League tie with Panathinaikos, where Malo Gusto is likely to start at right-back, giving James a rest ahead of the Newcastle match.
If James avoids any injury setbacks during training at Cobham this week, Maresca will almost certainly select him for the game against Newcastle. As Chelsea’s captain and one of the Premier League’s elite full-backs when fully fit, James is a player Maresca will want to rely on whenever possible.
However, given the 24-year-old’s injury history, the Chelsea manager has to exercise caution in managing his game time. His strong showing against Liverpool, where he played nearly an hour, was a very encouraging sign for both the team and the fans.
