Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirms no injury concerns ahead of match

Chelsea’s second Premier League match under Xabi Alonso comes with something the club hasn’t enjoyed in a while: a nearly fully fit squad. The former Bayer Leverkusen manager confirmed that defenders Levi Colwill and Geovany Quenda have no injury concerns, midfielder Moises Caicedo is back in training, and both Reece James and Cole Palmer are expected to be available for Sunday’s fixture. A squad clicking into gear Alonso’s tenure at Stamford Bridge began with a 3-2 win over Fulham on August 24, a result that offered more drama than the new manager probably wanted but delivered three points nonetheless. That opener, though, came without Caicedo, who missed the match due to what the club described as minor setbacks in his preparation. Then there’s Cole Palmer, who endured a frustrating campaign last season. Palmer managed only 26 Premier League appearances due to recurring groin problems. Alonso singled out Palmer’s commitment to injury prevention work during the offseason, suggesting the 24-year-old has taken a more proactive approach to keeping himself on the pitch. The Colwill factor Perhaps the most carefully managed return belongs to Levi Colwill. The center-back has been worki...