Predicted Chelsea lineup against Manchester City | Premier League

Jorginho returns from suspension and should start for Chelsea against Manchester City, while Christian Pulisic is also likely to feature from kick off.

Chelsea will be looking to strengthen their hold on fourth position in the Premier League table, when they face off against defending champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns heading into the game, with just the two players, Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson-Odoi, ruled out. “Fikayo Tomori is still probably about a week away from training properly with us and Callum Hudson-Odoi is still searching for fitness. He’s fit but not match fit yet,” manager Frank Lampard said in his press conference.

However, there are likely to be a few alterations to the starting lineup that took the field against Aston Villa last weekend. None of the changes are likely to come in defence, though, with Kepa Arrizabalaga starting between the sticks, guarded by the backline of Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso.

Chelsea have been handed a boost when it comes to the midfield department, as vice-captain Jorginho is back after serving his suspension and will be available for selection. The Italian should walk right back into the starting XI, slotting in at the base of the three-man midfield for the hosts against Manchester City.

N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, both of whom started in the last game, are expected to hold on to their places in the middle of the park. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who made his return from a lengthy injury layoff last time out, will be the one dropping to the bench.

There could be one change in the final third as well, with Christian Pulisic in line to start after his goal-scoring performance coming on as a substitute against Aston Villa. Mason Mount could be the one to make way for the USMNT international, who ought to start on the left flank, with Willian slotting in on the right.

Upfront, Olivier Giroud was preferred over Tammy Abraham last time out and he justified the selection with a goal. Hence, Lampard could once again stick with the veteran Frenchman over the Chelsea academy product on Thursday night.

Chelsea Predicted XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic

Jorginho returns from suspension and should start for Chelsea against Manchester City, while Christian Pulisic is also likely to feature from kick off.

Chelsea will be looking to strengthen their hold on fourth position in the Premier League table, when they face off against defending champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns heading into the game, with just the two players, Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson-Odoi, ruled out. “Fikayo Tomori is still probably about a week away from training properly with us and Callum Hudson-Odoi is still searching for fitness. He’s fit but not match fit yet,” manager Frank Lampard said in his press conference.

However, there are likely to be a few alterations to the starting lineup that took the field against Aston Villa last weekend. None of the changes are likely to come in defence, though, with Kepa Arrizabalaga starting between the sticks, guarded by the backline of Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso.

Chelsea have been handed a boost when it comes to the midfield department, as vice-captain Jorginho is back after serving his suspension and will be available for selection. The Italian should walk right back into the starting XI, slotting in at the base of the three-man midfield for the hosts against Manchester City.

N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, both of whom started in the last game, are expected to hold on to their places in the middle of the park. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who made his return from a lengthy injury layoff last time out, will be the one dropping to the bench.

There could be one change in the final third as well, with Christian Pulisic in line to start after his goal-scoring performance coming on as a substitute against Aston Villa. Mason Mount could be the one to make way for the USMNT international, who ought to start on the left flank, with Willian slotting in on the right.

Upfront, Olivier Giroud was preferred over Tammy Abraham last time out and he justified the selection with a goal. Hence, Lampard could once again stick with the veteran Frenchman over the Chelsea academy product on Thursday night.

Chelsea Predicted XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic