Moises Caicedo is missing for Chelsea against Brentford today because he has not yet fully recovered from a calf injury. Caicedo suffered the calf setback when he limped off just 14 minutes into his substitute appearance against Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

Hence, he is not even an option for the bench. Caicedo has already missed the games against Arsenal, Leeds United, and Hull City. After this game, there is a FIFA international window that will allow him to recover properly.

When is Caicedo coming back?

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso noted that the midfielder is getting closer to a return to full fitness. Still, the club chose not to rush him or take unnecessary risks for the trip to the G-Tech Community Stadium. Hence, he is likely to return after the international window.

Caicedo is widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, but he has suffered a lot in recent times with injuries. Now, the fact is he needs to fully recover so he doesn’t suffer any setbacks.

Chelsea’s lineup vs Brentford

Xabi Alonso will use his 3-4-2-1 formation. To replace Caicedo, he will employ veteran Jordan Henderson. Hence, it’s a change from the dynamism and strength of Caicedo to the composure and experience of Henderson.

This is the lineup: Dibu Martinez; Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix; Pep Chavarria, Jordan Henderson, Valentin Barco, Pedro Neto; Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer; Danny Welbeck.

Moi is still recovering from a calf injury, which is why he was also unavailable against the Gunners on Matchday 3. “Let’s see for Brentford [next week],” Alonso revealed when asked about the Ecuadorian midfielder’s immediate future.

The London side needs to return to winning ways quickly in order to move back into the leading positions. After three matches, Chelsea have picked up two wins and one defeat, scoring eight goals and conceding seven.

Chelsea face more absences

Caicedo will not be the only player unavailable to Xabi Alonso for this match against the Tigers. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, Marco Palestra, Jordan Henderson, and Emmanuel Emegha will also be absent, with the manager himself hoping to have them back for the clash against Brentford as well.

Chelsea’s confirmed lineup

Chelsea cannot afford to drop three crucial points in their bid to catch Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, which is why the manager is set to field this starting XI against Hull City, who currently have seven points.

Emiliano Martinez; Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Reece James; Pedro Neto, Romeo Lavia, Jorrel Hato; Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed through his X account that Levi Colwill will take his place on the bench. Both Chelsea and the Gunners will be looking for their third consecutive win in the competition.

These are the 11 players the manager will field at the Emirates Stadium: Emiliano Martinez; Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix, Wesley Fofana; Pedro Neto, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Jorrel Hato; Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, João Pedro.

What injury is Caicedo dealing with?

Moi Caicedo has been dealing with a recurring physical setback that originally kept him out of Chelsea’s season openers against Fulham and Luton. He managed to make his return as a substitute against Brighton on Sunday, August 30th, but he had to be subbed off after just 14 minutes when the issue flared back up.

While Chelsea hasn’t disclosed the exact nature of the injury, manager Xabi Alonso noted it wasn’t a new problem, and after failing a late fitness test, Caicedo was ultimately ruled out of today’s clash against Arsenal.

What’s next for Chelsea beyond Arsenal?

Facing Arsenal away from home could mean a high-risk matchup where anything can happen. However, beyond this crucial game, Alonso’s Chelsea have a series of matches ahead in which they will have to keep moving forward to maintain their title ambitions, not only in the 2026-27 Premier League but also in other competitions.

• vs Leeds United, September 9 (Carabao Cup)
• vs Hull City, September 12 (Matchday 4 – EPL)
• at Brentford, September 18 (Matchday 5 – EPL)
• vs Bournemouth, October 10 (Matchday 6 – EPL)
• at Everton, October 17 (Matchday 7 – EPL)

Per Bobby Vincent of Mirror Sport, Moises Caicedo and also winger Marco Palestra are missing the game against Fulham due to minor injuries picked up during the week. Hence, he should be back next week or the week after.

The fact is that these are not good news, especially on the Caicedo side as he is a key player for Chelsea. However, the silver lining is that it is a minor injury and he should be back soon for a team desperate to do well after years of bad performances.

Who will play instead of Caicedo?

Given Caicedo’s absence, Xabi Alonso had to call an audible and adjust the starting lineup. Alonso opted to pair Reece James alongside Romeo Lavia in the central midfield pivot instead.

Alonso will have a 3-4-2-1 lineup against Fulham. It is as follows: Robert Sanchez; Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix, Levi Colwill; Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Jorrel Hato; Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers.

Fulham’s lineup vs Chelsea

As for Fulham, new manager Alvaro Arbeloa will use a 4-2-3-1 formation with plenty of new signings as well. Hence, it will be interesting to see if the new philosophy is already looking fine.

This is their lineup: Bernd Leno; Timothy Castagne, Jorge Cuenca, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson; Joshua King, Sander Berge; Alex Iwobi, Oscar Bobb, Cesar Palacios; Gonzalo Garcia.

Sebastian Beccacece confirmed the starting lineup for the match, and one of the biggest talking points surrounds the absence of Moises Caicedo from the opening whistle. The Chelsea midfielder, widely considered the premier figure of the Ecuadorian squad, begins the encounter on the bench among the substitutes.

Everything suggests that the coaching staff decided against risking one of their most important players with the upcoming World Cup in mind. The primary idea is to prevent injuries so that everyone can arrive in optimal condition for the debut, a cautious approach that the manager also adopted with key players like William Pacho and Piero Hincapie, who recently featured in the Champions League final, alongside several other regular starters.

Ecuador’s confirmed lineup

Sebastian Beccacece opts to utilize a backup squad for this specific encounter against Guatemala, given the friendly nature of the match, presenting a perfect opportunity to analyze what their potential tactical alternatives could be during the World Cup, especially considering that the preferred starting 11 remains almost completely unchangeable.

Ecuador starting XI:

• Goalkeeper: Hernan Galindez
• Defenders: Alan Franco, Felix Torres, Jackson Porozo, Yaimar Medina
• Midfielders: Jordy Alcivar, Anthony Valencia, Jeremy Arevalo, Kendry Paez, Alan Minda
• Forward: Jordy Caicedo

Ecuador as one of the candidates to be a surprise

Ecuador arrive at the tournament in one of the best moments in their entire sporting history, boasting an unprecedented crop of young talent and finishing second in the Qualifiers only behind Argentina.

La Tri will reach the World Cup with the ultimate dream of becoming one of the true surprises of the competition, as their official debut comes on June 14 against Ivory Coast for the opening fixture of the group stage, a match that could completely set the course for their tournament participation.

Ecuador form part of Group E in the 2026 World Cup, in addition to Ivory Coast, featuring Germany and Curacao. It is a group that at first glance appears extremely complicated, but a strong belief exists that Ecuador can spring a major surprise in a setting very similar in characteristics to their group in Qatar 2022, where they shared the stage with Qatar, Netherlands, and Senegal.

This is one of four friendlies scheduled for Ecuador as they aim to climb the FIFA rankings and secure at least 23rd place (currently 24th), which would place them in Pot 2 for the World Cup draw on December 5.

Their chances to move up improved after Brazil defeated South Korea, currently 23rd in the rankings, by a comfortable margin. This opens a prime opportunity for Ecuador to gain ground.

Ecuador will play two friendlies this October against the United States and Mexico. Caicedo’s absence is notable, as he has been performing at an elite level, including an exceptional game against Liverpool in the Premier League.

Why is Moises Caicedo not available for Ecuador vs USA?

The biggest absence is midfielder Moises Caicedo of Chelsea. The coach of Ecuador, Sebastián Beccacece, decided to rest Caicedo due to his heavy workload this season. Despite scoring a brilliant goal against Liverpool in the seventh week of the Premier League, Caicedo will sit out to prevent fatigue and reduce the risk of injury.

Caicedo is a key starter for Chelsea, so this break is crucial to manage his physical condition. As a result, he will miss both friendlies against the United States and Mexico, with Ecuador prioritizing his recovery. Chelsea had reported minor physical issues, but he played the full 90 minutes in his last match.

Other notable absences for Ecuador

Beccacece also chose to rest other key players, including Piero Hincapie and Gonzalo Plata. The defender is recovering from an inguinal injury, while the winger has played multiple consecutive matches and the staff wants to prevent any risk of injury.

Piero Hincapie, who recently joined Arsenal, is still regaining full fitness, and the decision was made to avoid exposing him to the rigors of international soccer friendlies. Similarly, Gonzalo Plata will also be rested to maintain his condition for the upcoming competitive matches.

Minutes before the match in Asunción, ESPN reported that the ‘Niño Moi’ was removed from Ecuador’s squad due to a physical issue. The news came as a surprise to fans, as Caicedo has been a key figure in Ecuador’s midfield. His absence adds uncertainty to the team’s strategy for such an important game.

The Chelsea midfielder had been dealing with this problem since the last Premier League match against Fulham. Despite not showing a drop in performance on the field, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca clarified that Caicedo has been managing these issues. The strain comes from the heavy workload he endured during last season, and the staff is prioritizing his long-term fitness.

Without an official medical update, fans must wait to see if Moises Caicedo will be available for the final World Cup Qualifiers match next Tuesday against Argentina in Guayaquil. Ecuador will already be qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but his presence could still impact the team’s approach. The uncertainty surrounding the midfielder adds extra intrigue to the matchup.

Ecuador’s confirmed lineup vs Paraguay

The injury to Moises Caicedo could have a major impact on Ecuador’s performance, as he has been a cornerstone and arguably the team’s best player due to his outstanding form with Chelsea, the club world champions. Without him, the question remains: how will Ecuador line up against Paraguay?

This is the confirmed lineup for Ecuador against Paraguay: Hernan Galindez; Angelo Preciado, Piero Hincapie, William Pacho, Pervis Estupiñan; Jordy Alcivar, Joel Ordoñez, Kendry Paez; Pedro Vite, Nilson Angulo; Enner Valencia.

Two of the most notable absences in DAZN’s starting XI were Messi and Caicedo, two South American stars who shined for their respective teams. Messi’s Inter Miami were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain, but his individual contributions were widely praised. The Argentine played a pivotal role in helping the MLS side reach that stage, even if it wasn’t enough to prolong their stay in the tournament.

As for Caicedo, many considered the Ecuadorian to be the top midfielder of the competition. Without him, Chelsea’s midfield lacked structure and recovery. Teammates hailed Caicedo as their best player of the season, and his performance in the final against PSG was widely applauded — especially his dominance over Vitinha. Despite all that, Caicedo was left out of the Best XI, a decision many have called unfair.

DAZN’s 2025 Club World Cup best XI

The lineup features a heavy presence of players from PSG and Chelsea, which makes sense given they were the tournament finalists. Still, there were a few surprise inclusions that stood out for their exceptional play.

DAZN’s Best XI: Bono (Al Hilal); Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea); Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Vitinha (PSG), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Chelsea); Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Gonzalo Garcia (Real Madrid).

Social media quickly erupted with criticism over the inclusion of Enzo Fernandez and Vitinha at the expense of Caicedo. One explanation offered was that Caicedo missed the semifinals due to yellow card accumulation, which may have influenced the final selection.

Surprise names in the squad?

One of the biggest surprises was the inclusion of goalkeeper Bono from Al Hilal. The veteran shot-stopper played five matches, conceded six goals, and kept two clean sheets. He also saved a last-minute penalty from Federico Valverde in the opening 1-1 draw and delivered a crucial stop against Savinho in a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester City in the Round of 16.

Up front, DAZN included Fluminense’s Jhon Arias and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia. Arias starred for Fluminense throughout the tournament, scoring a spectacular goal and recording an assist in the group stage against Ulsan. Garcia, meanwhile, stepped in for an ill Kylian Mbappe and quickly became one of Madrid’s most important players. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals, earning a deserved spot in the lineup.

The Ecuadorian midfielder has been central to Chelsea’s success this season under Enzo Maresca, even wearing the captain’s armband on multiple occasions.

Caicedo played all 38 matches in the Premier League, helping the Blues finish fourth in the table, and has been one of the most consistent and reliable players at the club.

While Chelsea already played without Caicedo in their opening match of the tournament against Espérance de Tunis—where he was benched to avoid suspension—the quarterfinal marks one of the rare occasions the midfielder is entirely unavailable.

Why is Moises Caicedo not playing today?

Caicedo is suspended for the quarterfinal match against Palmeiras after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament during the Round of 16 clash with Benfica. As a result, the Ecuadorian will miss the game due to suspension but is expected to support his teammates from the sidelines.

His absence is a major blow for Chelsea, especially given his importance in controlling the midfield. The upside, however, is that Caicedo will be eligible to return “clean” for a potential semifinal and, if they advance, the final—should the Blues continue their campaign in the Club World Cup.

Head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed the lineup just minutes before kickoff and opted to leave Caicedo out of the starting XI, even though the Ecuadorian midfielder has been a vital part of the squad throughout the season. However, he will be available off the bench.

Moises Caicedo had started both of Chelsea’s previous matches in the group stage of the Club World Cup. In the opener against Los Angeles FC—a 2-0 win for the English side—he partnered with Romeo Lavia in midfield and was subbed off in the 84th minute for Dario Essugo. In the loss to Flamengo, he played the full 90 minutes.

This time, however, Maresca opted for a different approach, choosing a midfield duo of Lavia and Enzo Fernandez. While there has been no official confirmation on why Caicedo was left out of the starting XI, the fact that he is on the bench strongly suggests it was a tactical decision rather than an injury concern.

Chelsea starting lineup vs Esperance

Head coach Enzo Maresca named the following starting XI for Chelsea’s clash against Esperance ST on Tuesday night at Lincoln Financial Field: Filip Jorgensen; Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong; Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia; Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku; Liam Delap.

What do Chelsea need to advance?

Chelsea entered Matchday 3 of the Club World Cup in second place in Group D with 3 points—the same tally as Esperance. With Flamengo already qualified as group winners and LAFC eliminated, the final Round of 16 spot will be decided directly between Chelsea and Esperance.

The Blues hold a key advantage: a better goal difference and more goals scored. That means a draw would be enough for Chelsea to secure the coveted second spot in the group. Of course, a win would also see them through. For Esperance, the only way to advance is with a victory.

At 21, the future looks bright for Caicedo, who has already taken part in a FIFA World Cup with his country. The Blues aim to get back to prominence for the years to come, and the young midfielder could play a key role.

Even though it’s still too soon to tell whether he’ll live up to the expectations around him, Chelsea seem to be very confident in his potential as Caicedo was given a lucrative deal.

How much does Moises Caicedo make at Chelsea?

According to Ali Barat, owner of Epic Sports agency – which represents Caicedo, Chelsea handed the Ecuadorian sensation a significant pay rise compared to his salary at Brighton.

Barat told Tuttosport that the Blues pay Caicedo £150k per week, which is way bigger than his previous £60k-a-week salary with the Seagulls.

Considering this £150k weekly salary, Caicedo would make £600k a month, or £7.2 million a year. On a daily basis it would be £21,428 a day; or £892 an hour; £14.88 a minute; or £0.25 a second.