31 January 2024 , 19:15
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Chelsea were denied the chance to pick Nicolas Jackson for their trip to Liverpool on Wednesday night despite initially making plans for the forward's return from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jackson's Senegal were knocked out by hosts Ivory Coast on penalties on Monday, and the Blues made plans to fly the forward straight back to Manchester in order for him to be named in the squad for Anfield.
But Chelsea were left frustrated when Senegal coach Aliou Cisse ordered the squad to return to Dakar together before then going on to report for their clubs, forcing Jackson to change his plans.
Mauricio Pochettino had mentioned Jackson in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, and suggested that his high-energy style would be useful against Jurgen Klopp's table-toppers.
"But with Nico, we miss this aggressivity that he provides in front, he runs a lot, the effort is massive and he helps the team to press high, recover and then to score goals because also he is scoring goals," he said.
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"He has a good record at the moment. I think we miss him a lot and now, yes, happy in some way [that Senegal are out] because we can recover him and the other side, of course, is sad because they lost. But selfishly, I am happy because maybe tomorrow he can be with us."
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Diaz, Darwin, Jota.
Subs: Kelleher, Gakpo, Elliott, Robertson, Gravenberch, Clark, McConnell, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah.
Chelsea starting XI: Petrovic, Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell, Caicedo, Gallagher, Enzo, Madueke, Palmer, Sterling.
Subs: Bergstrom, Gilchrist, Gusto, Casadei, Chukwuemeka, Mudryk, Nkunku, Broja, Washington