Thiago Silva should replace Benoit Badiashile in the Chelsea starting lineup against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday.
Chelsea will be eager to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they lock horns with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night. And Mauricio Pochettino has a new issue on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Benoit Badiashile picked up a groin injury and is a doubt to take on Crystal Palace on Monday. The Frenchman has joined Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Romeo Lavia on the sidelines. Robert Sanchez has resumed training but might not be ready to feature yet.
Meanwhile, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah are closing in on returning to action. But Monday’s game might have come too soon for the defensive duo. Pochettino provided a fitness update on the Englishman while also speaking about Badiashile during his pre-match press conference.
The Chelsea boss said, “Benoit, we need to assess him, still we need to wait for the scan. It’s his groin. I hope it’s not a big issue, but this afternoon we will know better. And then maybe Levi will be back on Monday, we need to wait until Sunday to see if it is possible for him to be available. The other news is that Chalobah is doing well, he’s training with the team.”
Pochettino also addressed Lavia’s issues, saying, “Still he’s not training with the team. Still he’s recovering, so it is impossible for him to be back before the Carabao Cup final. He’s still not on the pitch.”
While Lavia waits for his belated Chelsea debut, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Conor Gallagher will reprise the no. 10 role, meaning Christopher Nkunku will be on the bench again as he builds up his fitness.
The offensive unit will have a fluid look, with Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, and Noni Madueke interchanging positions. So, Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk will be options on the bench. As for the backline, Thiago Silva should replace the injured Badiashile, joining Axel Disasi at the heart of the defence. Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell will complete the numbers at the back, with Djordje Petrovic featuring between the sticks.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Chilwell; Fernandez, Caicedo; Palmer, Gallagher, Madueke; Jackson
