Predicted Chelsea XI vs Tottenham amid forced changes – Football Sport Express.co.uk
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more. Thiago Silva may have played his final match for Chelsea (Image: Getty). Mauricio Pochettino has just nine senior Chelsea players to pick from as his side prepare to take on Tottenham on Thursday night.
Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva have now added their names to the Blues’ list of absentees, meaning that a defensive shakeup is in the pipeline at Stamford Bridge. Express Sport takes a look at how Pochettino’s side could line up. With Robert Sanchez still only in partial team training, Petrovic remains between the sticks for Pochettino. Chelsea have been linked with several goalkeepers ahead of the summer transfer window, and the 24-year-old will be keen to make a statement as to why he should remain as No.
1 against Spurs. Defence: Alfie Gilchrist, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Marc Cucurella. Silva announced that he will be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, and the Brazil international may have already played his final match for the club after sustaining another injury last weekend. With Disasi also ruled out, Pochettino will be relying on Gilchrist to step up and start his second league match.
Chalobah will therefore be deployed in his natural centre-back role, with Cucurella a shoo-in at left-back whilst Ben Chilwell continues to undergo his rehabilitation programme. With Enzo Fernandez recently undergoing surgery, Gallagher and Caicedo are likely to remain as Chelsea’s double pivot until the end of the season. The duo have performed well together previously and will be hoping that Palmer can regain his goal-scoring thread from central areas. Cesare Casadei can provide an alternative option on the bench, and the ex-Leicester City loanee is likely to be the most experienced player on the Blues’ bench despite being just 21.
This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy. Cole Palmer is certain to play a key role in the Blues’ clash with Spurs (Image: Getty).
Forwards: Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Mykhaylo Mudryk. Pochettino will be relying on his Chelsea front three to step up over the coming weeks, with questions raised about each of the trio. Madueke has shown promise in his last few appearances and proved that he has plenty to offer for the Blues, scoring his fourth goal of the season last weekend. With European football hanging in the balance, the duo must prove their worth before the end of the season or risk warming the bench regularly next season.
