Raheem Sterling “ends drought”; Graham Potter announces two bad news after the match

Raheem Sterling ends drought to spark Chelsea into life against Dinamo Champions League Group E – Chelsea 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb.

Raheem Sterling ended a run of eight games without a goal and Denis Zakaria netted on his Blues debut as Chelsea put last weekend’s heavy defeat at Brighton behind them at soggy Stamford Bridge last night.

Graham Potter’s side were already confirmed as Group E winners and victory over Dinamo Zagreb restored some morale after their 4-1 Premier League drubbing on the south coast.

Potter made seven changes to his starting line-up – handing a first appearance to Swiss midfielder Zakaria since he joined on loan from Juventus in the summer.

But the hosts fell behind to a sloppy goal, Bruno Petkovic heading the Croatians ahead from close range in the seventh minute.

Dinamo’s lead lasted 11 minutes as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s clever backheel allowed Sterling to pick up the ball on the edge of the box before he made space and drilled home.

It was the England forward’s first goal since mid-September against Red Bull Salzburg and good news for England boss Gareth Southgate with the World Cup in Qatar looming.

Zakaria then marked his debut with a goal to hand Chelsea the lead on the half-hour, his strike from the edge of the box trickling over the line as Sadegh Moharrami tried to clear.

Aubameyang’s thumping effort hit the crossbar on 52 minutes as the hosts pressed for a third goal.

Thiago Silva headed wide from a corner, Mason Mount forced Dominik Livakovic to tip over his curling free-kick and the keeper denied Conor Gallagher from close range late on but Chelsea had done enough.

There was a worry for Chelsea – and Southgate – as Ben Chilwell needed to be helped off at the final whistle with an apparent hamstring injury.

Kepa Arrizabalaga ruled out of Chelsea’s clash with Arsenal after Ben Chilwell injury blow

The Spaniard has been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper since Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel as manager but is currently sidelined with a foot injury.

Kepa attended Chelsea’s Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening but was seen at the stadium with crutches.

Edouard Mendy started ahead of Kepa and now looks set to keep his place for Arsenal’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

When asked about Kepa’s availability for the match against Arsenal, Potter replied: ‘No he won’t be okay for Sunday.

‘It’s only precautionary [to use crutches] to keep the weight off his foot.

‘He’s progressing well but won’t be available for Sunday.’

Chelsea will also be without Ben Chilwell who now faces an anxious wait on a scan of the hamstring injury he suffered in the closing stages of the 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.

The left-back is now a major doubt to be fit for the start of England’s World Cup campaign, which begins with their first game in Group B against Iran on November 21.

‘It’s a blow for us on an otherwise positive evening,’ said Potter.

‘To see him pull up like that, it’s not a great sight.

‘So fingers crossed when we get it scanned it isn’t too bad. It can be not as severe but we have to cross our fingers at the moment. But clearly, we’re disappointed.’

SOURCE: metro