Chelsea are back in Premier League action in a couple of days time when they face Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea host rivals Newcastle on Monday night in a league game.
The Blues desperately need a win given they sit in the bottom half of the division table and there’s big pressure building from angry supporters.
The Chelsea Chronicle has predicted the starting line-up we think head coach Mauricio Pochettino will select versus Newcastle.
This includes three changes to the Blues side that ended up drawing 2-2 with Brentford last weekend, but they’re very much enforced swaps. We’ve also predicted a formation tweak by ditching the 3-5-2 shape for the more commonly used 4-2-3-1 system.
Table of Contents
GK and defence
Djordje Petrovic continues in net after establishing himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Malo Gusto, the team’s in-form player right now, starts at right-back in a back four.
We think the Blues will use Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah as the starting centre-back combination.
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Then, Marc Cucurella returns to the XI in one of three changes. The £60m star (Sky Sports) hasn’t started a game since December because of an ankle problem, but he was on the bench in the Brentford draw.
Unfortunately, both Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell drop out of the side after being named on the club’s injury list this week, via the club’s official website. Chelsea confirmed that Chilwell is undergoing a specialist medical assessment.
Midfield
It’s the usual suspects of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez we’re predicting to start on Monday at home to Newcastle.
Conor Gallagher’s missed training this week through illness, so we’ve dropped him from the XI. Speaking via Chelsea’s YouTube channel this week, Pochettino claimed the Blues will have to wait and see if Gallagher recovers in time for for Newcastle.
Attack
Cole Palmer keeps his starting position, this time working from the right wing and drifting infield.
Mykhailo Mudryk is the second fresh face promoted to the XI. We think he could get a chance to impress in the No 10 position.
Raheem Sterling is the third change to the side as the formation tweak allows him to start as the left-winger.
That leaves Nicolas Jackson as the frontline striker again.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1):
Petrovic
Gusto Disasi Chalobah Cucurella
Fernandez Caicedo
Palmer Mudryk Sterling
Jackson
IN: Marc Cucurella, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling
OUT: Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher
