Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has admitted the club may have brought Moises Caicedo back too quickly as the midfielder continues his recovery from a recurring injury concern.

The Blues boss offered a cautious fitness update on the player after Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal.

Caicedo’s absence at the Emirates Stadium raised fresh questions about his condition after he was forced off early in Chelsea’s previous match against Brighton.

Caicedo did not travel with the squad for Sunday’s London derby, with Romeo Lavia and Reece James filling the midfield roles in his absence.

The Ecuadorian sustained an injury in the 14th minute against Brighton, prompting Chelsea’s medical staff to conduct a thorough assessment.

Speaking after the Arsenal defeat, Alonso acknowledged that Chelsea may have been too eager to reintroduce the midfielder.

Rather than setting a firm return date, the Spaniard emphasised the importance of managing the player’s workload properly.

He said, “Not longer term, but it is about assessing the risk. Probably last week we took him too early, and I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

The Chelsea boss added that his main focus is all about securing victories on the pitch.

He added, “My clear priority is to win games and it is easier when you don’t concede. This is something that we need to address. But it’s a new era here and I’m happy with my players, happy with the attitude.”

“It was a great game to witness on the touchline, the players from both sides gave everything… It hurts to lose any game and hurts to lose here at the Emirates.”

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has admitted the club may have brought Moises Caicedo back too quickly as the midfielder continues his recovery from a recurring injury concern.

The Blues boss offered a cautious fitness update on the player after Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal.

Caicedo’s absence at the Emirates Stadium raised fresh questions about his condition after he was forced off early in Chelsea’s previous match against Brighton.

Caicedo did not travel with the squad for Sunday’s London derby, with Romeo Lavia and Reece James filling the midfield roles in his absence.

The Ecuadorian sustained an injury in the 14th minute against Brighton, prompting Chelsea’s medical staff to conduct a thorough assessment.

Speaking after the Arsenal defeat, Alonso acknowledged that Chelsea may have been too eager to reintroduce the midfielder.

Rather than setting a firm return date, the Spaniard emphasised the importance of managing the player’s workload properly.

He said, “Not longer term, but it is about assessing the risk. Probably last week we took him too early, and I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

The Chelsea boss added that his main focus is all about securing victories on the pitch.

He added, “My clear priority is to win games and it is easier when you don’t concede. This is something that we need to address. But it’s a new era here and I’m happy with my players, happy with the attitude.”

“It was a great game to witness on the touchline, the players from both sides gave everything… It hurts to lose any game and hurts to lose here at the Emirates.”

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola says Alexander Isak is a “massive” player for him – but adds he “fights” with the player about needing to do more for the “collective”.

Isak scored twice in the opening nine minutes in the 2-0 win over Ipswich to take his tally to three for the season – but Iraola hinted the player needs to do more off the ball for the team.

“He’s a massive player for us,” he told Sky Sports. “My demands will not be about the goals: he’s fit, in a good shape and he will produce the numbers.

“But my fights with him are more about other stuff, how to help the team in other situations. But it’s good he has played two full games and today a good amount of minutes, scoring the goals.”

Iraola did not reveal which specific areas Isak needs to improve, but it could be interpreted that Iraola wants his striker to do more in the pressing.

“I will demand other things so we can play well,” he said in his post-match press conference about those demands to Isak. “And if we play well, we are in good positions, the goals will come.

“He has to contribute to the collective and when everyone helps, after the goals and results will come.”

Iraola also said to Sky: “Today we were much, much better in our press. We were recovering very high and then we can contact him in good positions.

“If we recover the ball lower, it will be more difficult to find him to have less spaces. So we need more quality effort to put our No 9 in situations like he had today.”