Mykhaylo Mudryk will make his Chelsea debut, while Mateo Kovacic will replace Conor Gallagher when Chelsea face Liverpool on Saturday.
Chelsea have failed to win eight of the last ten Premier League matches and will be desperate to pick up all three points when they take on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. The Blues are currently tenth in the standings and will need to put together a winning run to keep their chances of UEFA Champions League qualification alive.
Chelsea have a number of injury problems heading into Saturday’s game, and they will be without the services of Denis Zakaria, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante, Armando Broja, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Edouard Mendy and Christian Pulisic. January signing Joao Felix picked up a red card against Fulham and will miss out through suspension.
Meanwhile, manager Graham Potter confirmed in his pre-match press conference that January signing Mykhaylo Mudryk could make his debut at Anfield after settling in well since his move to Stamford Bridge.
Potter said, “He’s settled in really good. He’s a young player, an exciting player, fantastic speed one-v-one, can attack the back line. Now we’ve just got to help him adapt to the Premier League, adapt to us.”
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“He’s obviously come from a mid-season break so hasn’t played so much football recently, but has been training well, so we’ll assess him and see how much he can play at the weekend. There’s a chance he could make his debut. It’s how much he can do. I think 90 minutes no, but there’s probably a role for him at some stage in the game.”
Meanwhile, Potter added that midfielder Ruben Loftus-cheek could be involved against Liverpool, having been on the bench in the last match. Defenders Reece James and Ben Chilwell have joined first-team training, but they won’t be involved at the weekend.
“Ruben was on the bench in the last match to be on the bench, essentially. The boys are progressing well, Reece has joined team training but won’t be involved at the weekend, the same as Ben. Everybody else is pretty much where we were.”
Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in goal for Chelsea in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Cesar Azpilicueta will likely feature as the right-back, with Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile pairing up at the heart of the defence. Marc Cucurella is expected to start as the left-back here.
In the midfield, Italian international Jorginho will partner with Mateo Kovacic, who will replace Conor Gallagher. Mudryk is expected to be handed his Chelsea debut here as the left winger. Mason Mount should reprise the no. 10 role, with Hakim Ziyech on the right. Kai Havertz will lead the line for the away side.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Badiashile, Cucurrella; Jorginho, Kovacic; Ziyech, Mount, Mudryk; Havertz
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