Olivier Giroud comes into the side in place of Tammy Abraham while Cesar Azpilicueta and Callum Hudson-Odoi also start as Chelsea get ready to face Aston Villa.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has made as many as six changes to the side that lost against Arsenal at the weekend for their Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
Three of the six alterations come in defence wherein Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen all start in place of Reece James, Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva respectively. Ben Chilwell, though, keeps his place at left-back while Edouard Mendy gets selected in goal once again.
Your starting XI for #CHEAVL! ? pic.twitter.com/JgZsRy7sqr
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 28, 2020
There is a solitary change in the middle of the park as well, with Mateo Kovacic making way for Jorginho. The Italian international will be flanked by the ever-present figures of N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount against Aston Villa.
Timo Werner is dropped to the bench after a series of underwhelming displays. In his place, Callum Hudson-Odoi starts while Christian Pulisic is retained on the opposite flank. The big call comes in the centre-forward slot wherein Lampard has gone with Olivier Giroud, despite Tammy Abraham scoring for Chelsea in the last game.
Chelsea Starting Lineup: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Chilwell, Kante, Jorginho, Mount, Pulisic, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi.
