Mason Mount and Kai Havertz will return, but N’Golo Kante will get some rest when Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion clash on Saturday.
Chelsea will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. And Frank Lampard has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Kalidou Koulibaly sustained a hamstring injury against Real Madrid earlier this week. And the Senegalese defender is out for the foreseeable future. Koulibaly has joined Carney Chukwuemeka and Armando Broja on the sidelines. Meanwhile, there has been speculation surrounding the goalkeeping situation.
But Lampard quickly moved to quash such suggestions during his pre-match press conference. He said, “I don’t see any reasons to do anything differently at the moment, with Kepa’s performances and maturity.”
“I’ve maybe matured as a coach as I’ve come back, he has matured as a player. I think he has been in good form and Edou has had a couple of injuries. He is still carrying a small one at the moment so the position as you see it doesn’t change.”
Meanwhile, Lampard addressed questions surrounding Koulibaly’s fitness during his presser. He said, “He won’t be available for either game [Brighton and Real Madrid next week]. It’s a hamstring injury and it will be a matter of weeks rather than days.”
“We carry on without him and hopefully he gets fit as quick as he can. They can’t all play, the maths doesn’t work. So I think over the period I’m here, first I want to win football matches because we’re Chelsea and that’s what’s expected by us and the fans. Secondly I want to be part of a process in this period where players have an opportunity if they train well.”
“If they deserve to play they get an opportunity on the pitch and they show what they can do. So tomorrow will be an opportunity for players who didn’t play in the Champions League or at the weekend to come in, because it’s a game when we absolutely need freshness and energy.”
While Kepa will retain his place, there might be a few changes elsewhere in the team. And Chelsea will line up in a 4-3-3 formation after going ahead with the 3-5-2 against Real Madrid. The backline should see two changes, with Thiago Silva dropping to the bench as Lampard manages his minutes.
Benoit Badiashile should replace Silva, partnering with Wesley Fofana at the heart of the defence. But Reece James and Ben Chilwell should retain their places. As for the midfield unit, N’Golo Kante should get some rest. And Mason Mount should replace the Frenchman in the middle of the park. Mount will accompany Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez in the trifecta.
As for the offensive unit, Kai Havertz will return to spearhead the attack. But Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling might drop out. Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke will likely replace the duo, starting as the wide attackers for the host. So Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss out again.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Wesley Fofana, Badiashile, Chilwell; Mount, Enzo Fernandez, Kovacic; Madueke, Havertz, Mudryk
