Eden Hazard and Gonzalo Higuain are likely to be among a host of changes made by Maurizio Sarri when Chelsea host Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea will be hoping to continue their resurgent run of form when they welcome Wolves to Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening. With a place in the top four being up for grabs, even if narrowly so, Maurizio Sarri will be raring for his side to continue racking up the wins, a pursuit which is helped by the clean bill of health he can boast.
The uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeping situation is no longer prevalent even though Kepa Arrizabalaga reportedly has his Chelsea future up in the air. The Spaniard though, has started the last two games, providing a solid presence between the sticks and should thus, face Wolves as well.
In front of him, the defensive line is likely to have a much changed look, with David Luiz the only player likely to hold on to his spot from the Europa League win over Dynamo Kyiv. Antonio Rudiger should be his partner at the heart of the defence, with Andreas Christensen dropping down to the bench.
Cesar Azpilicueta will don the armband for Chelsea, replacing David Zappacosta on the right side of the defence. On the opposite flank, the recent trend of shuffling Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso ought to continue, with the former likely to get the nod.
In midfield, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are certain starters for games such as the one against Wolves, meaning the Frenchman should return to the side. The final spot in the side should continue to be a toss-up between Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek still not fit enough to start a game, as iterated by Sarri during his pre-match press conference.
“In the last two or three matches it’s been better. He has been training with continuity in the last two or three weeks. His physical condition is not at the top at the moment to play for 90 minutes, and so on Thursday he wasn’t in the starting XI only for this reason.”
“At the moment he is not able to play for 90 minutes but he has improved his physical condition. His back is getting better and better, and in two or three weeks he will be able to play for 90 minutes.”
Sarri’s comments suggest Loftus-Cheek is unlikely to start, and with Barkley being taken off early in the second half against Dynamo Kyiv, he should get the nod over Kovacic on Sunday. Up ahead in attack, there is no looking past Eden Hazard and Gonzalo Higuain, with the latter set to replace Olivier Giroud.
The final spot in the side will be contested by Pedro and Willian, with the latter likely to prevail in the bid to face Wolves. Willian should thus, join Hazard and Higuain in the Chelsea attack.