As the January transfer window heats up, Chelsea and Manchester United are set to battle over the signature of a […]

Liam Rosenior's side dominated against the Cypriot minnows but only prevailed with a goal from a set piece 12 minutes from the end

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Chelsea Player Ratings vs. Pafos: Unprecedented Winning Goal Spares Blues’ Blushes. Chelsea’s narrow win over Pafos at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night has the Blues just inside the all-important top eight in the Champions League standings with just one game left to play.

Victory in such circumstances will do little to build a positive narrative, but Rosenior avoided the banana skin feared before kick-off - praising Pafos' ongoing push to reach the play‑off round, which the Blues are desperate to avoid.

Alao has made five appearances for Wednesday’s first-team this season, playing a total of 186 minutes across all competitions.

Two years at Paris Saint-Germain split Luiz’s spells at Chelsea. The fates would conspire to pit the Brazilian against his former employers in the Champions League last 16 twice. It was Luiz’s goal at the Bridge which knocked Chelsea out in 2015 before he played the full 180 minutes across both legs of a 4–2 aggregate triumph the following year.

Liam Rosenior has explained why Cole Palmer is not part of Chelsea’s squad for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Pafos. The England international trained on Tuesday morning at Cobham but was left out of the squad for the match at Stamford Bridge the following day.

Follow build-up, team news, live coverage with score and text updates from the semi-finals of the Women’s League Cup as Arsenal take on Manchester United and Manchester City face Chelsea.