Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell will return to the Chelsea starting lineup against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday.
Chelsea made a mediocre start to the Premier League campaign, but they have shown improvement in recent weeks, picking up four wins from their last five league matches. They will be eager to dent Liverpool’s title hopes when they pay Anfield a visit on Wednesday evening.
Mauricio Pochettino will have to deal with a number of injury problems heading into this game. The Blues will be without Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, and Trevoh Chalobah.
Chelsea are likely to start in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Djordje Petrovic in goal. Axel Disasi and Ben Chilwell will be deployed as the full-backs and the two players will look to protect the central defenders and help out during counter-attacks. Thiago Silva will start alongside Levi Colwill at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Moises Caicedo will look to break up opposition attacks and win the ball back for his side. Enzo Fernandez will start alongside him, and the Argentine international will look to create goalscoring opportunities from the deep and control the tempo of the game.
Conor Gallagher is likely to be the advanced midfielder here, and he will look to add creativity, drive and pressing ability to the side. Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling will start in the wide areas, and the two players will be expected to chip in with creativity and goals in the final third.
Cole Palmer will lead the line for Chelsea against Liverpool in the absence of a recognised striker. Although Nicolas Jackson is set to return from the Africa Cup of Nations after Senegal’s elimination, he might not be ready to start here.
On Jackson’s availability, Pochettino said during his pre-match press conference, “We are seeing, it’s not sure, maybe it could happen, he could be there and involved in the game. If it gives us a one per cent better possibility to win the game, we will try. We are waiting for the confirmation, all I can say is maybe he is there.”
Palmer has been in splendid form in recent weeks, and he will look to add to his goalscoring tally here. Mykhailo Mudryk will be an option on the bench for the away side.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Gallagher, Sterling; Palmer
