Mauricio Pochettino has explained why Nicolas Jackson is so important to Chelsea, as the club do their best to get him on the pitch at Anfield.
The 22-year-old striker hopes to return from the Africa Cup of Nations in time to face Liverpool, after his Senegal team were knocked out by hosts Ivory Coast on Monday night.
Pochettino discussed the possibility of putting Jackson straight back into the starting lineup for Chelsea, even if it is after a 10-hour journey from West Africa.
“We are seeing [if it is possible],” Pochettino said. “Maybe it will happen. If it means we have a one percent more chance to win the game, for sure, we will try it.
“We are waiting. All I can say is that maybe he will be there. The other day, Ghana lost and were out, and Inaki Williams arrived a few hours before and played in the second half to beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.
“Why can’t Jackson arrive and score the winning goal?”
Jackson has faced significant criticism this season but has still scored eight goals in 23 matches in all competitions since joining Chelsea. Armando Broja has struggled in his absence, with Christopher Nkunku injured and Cole Palmer not as effective when playing as a no9.
Pochettino says he learned a lot without Jackson but is also glad to have him back.
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“[Him being missing] is allowing us, different circumstances, to be creative and to really work hard to try and provide the team with a good balance because during these six, seven months that we are working,” the Chelsea boss said.
“We always are changing players. Always 12, 13, 14 players available and 10, 12 players out. It was always difficult to find the balance and to compete in the best way.
“We are talking about different things and different aspects of the game that it is difficult to be consistent when you cannot repeat one team and repeat again and the next and the next week.
“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 has a good record at the moment. I think we miss him a lot and now, yes, happy in some way 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.”
