Chelsea defender Lacroix sidelined with hamstring tear, misses France Nations League

Maxence Lacroix, Chelsea's £52 million summer signing from Crystal Palace, suffered a hamstring tear during the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) fourth-round match against Liverpool at Anfield on 28 October 2026. The 26-year-old French defender pulled up while closing down Liverpool's Cody Gakpo shortly before half-time, with the match level at 1–1 following penalty conversions from Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo. Medical examination confirmed a left hamstring injury, and he was replaced by Levi Colwill in the first-half stoppage time.

Lacroix has been a key player for Chelsea under manager Xabi Alonso, starting 10 of the club's 11 matches this season and accumulating 634 Premier League minutes—more than any other Chelsea defender. The injury forces him to miss Chelsea's Premier League fixture against Manchester United and creates uncertainty ahead of France's UEFA Nations League matches against Italy (12 November) and Turkey (15 November), for which Zinedine Zidane will name his squad on 6 November.

The injury compounds Chelsea's defensive challenges this season. The club was already without Joao Pedro, Reece James, Jamie Gittens, and suspended Cole Palmer for the Liverpool match. With Lacroix sidelined for several weeks, Levi Colwill is expected to resume his place, while Josh Acheampong may receive additional starts and Aaron Anselmino could move up the pecking order. France faces additional injury concerns, as Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé (2025 Ballon d'Or winner) is also expected to miss the international break after suffering a left thigh injury in the Champions League against Barcelona, with a recovery timeline of approximately three weeks.

Lacroix has been a regular starter for France since his international debut in March 2026, appearing in all four Nations League matches under Zidane and starting three of them alongside defensive partners Dayot Upamecano, Jérémy Jacquet, and Loïc Badé. His availability for the November fixtures remains uncertain, pending developments on his recovery.