Enzo Maresca will ring in the changes when Chelsea and Crystal Palace clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but Jadon Sancho misses out.
Chelsea will aim to return to winning ways when they welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. And Enzo Maresca has some new players in his squad ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Jadon Sancho is the latest absentee, with the Englishman completing his move to the West London club nearly 24 hours after the summer transfer window shut down. However, Maresca does not have many injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of this weekend’s game.
Reece James is the only absentee, with the club captain recovering from a hamstring injury. Romeo Lavia faces a late fitness test to determine his availability, but he should be in the matchday squad. Meanwhile, Maresca did not discuss any team news update in his comments ahead of the game but spoke about Cole Palmer’s progress.
The Chelsea manager said, “I’ve been very impressed with Cole, even though I have known him very well for many years. It’s never easy to repeat the same numbers as last year in terms of goals and assists, but the most important thing for Cole is to enjoy football, relax and not feel pressure on his shoulders. He has to enjoy training every day and then the goals and assists will come for sure.”
Cole Palmer should return to the starting lineup on Sunday, reprising the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and last week’s hat-trick hero Noni Madueke being the two wide attackers. Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for the home side against Crystal Palace, with Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, and Mykhailo Mudryk being options on the bench.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, with Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka being options on the bench. The backline should not throw any surprises, with Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella completing the defensive quartet. Finally, Robert Sanchez is the automatic pick between the sticks.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
