Mauricio Pochettino will be forced to reshuffle Chelsea’s struggling attack when they go up against local rivals Fulham tomorrow. A total of 10 first-team absences will make life difficult for the Blues, who are chasing only their second victory of the new Premier League campaign.
Express Sport takes a look at how Chelsea could line up at Craven Cottage…
Goalkeeper – Sanchez
Robert Sanchez will almost certainly be given the nod in goal against Fulham, with the Spaniard now Chelsea’s established first-choice goalkeeper. He earned a welcome clean sheet against former club Brighton in midweek but struggled to impress with the ball at his feet, with the Seagulls pressing him relentlessly all game.
Sanchez will be hoping to follow up with another shutout against Fulham, who have scored just five goals in six Premier League matches so far this season.
Defence – Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella
Chelsea will be without a number of key players at the back, with Ben Chilwell having joined Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana on the treatment table. Chilwell’s absence could see Marc Cucurella feature at left-back for the Blues, while Axel Disasi could be trusted to start on the opposite flank with Malo Gusto suspended.
Meanwhile, a central pairing of Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill will likely be the preferred option for Pochettino at Craven Cottage tomorrow.
Midfield – Caicedo, Gallagher, Fernandez
Carney Chukwuemeka has returned to full training to ease Chelsea’s injury worries in the middle of the park, although he could be forced to settle for a place on the bench against Fulham. Moises Caicedo will be poised to start just ahead of the back four, with Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandes shouldering the majority of the Blues’ creative duties.
Romeo Lavia will, of course, remain sidelined as he continues to recover from an ankle injury sustained in training during the international break earlier this month.
Attack – Mudryk, Sterling, Palmer
Nicolas Jackson will be unavailable for Chelsea tomorrow as he serves a one-match ban after picking up his fifth yellow card against Aston Villa last weekend. Cole Palmer could be drafted in to replace him in attack, with Armando Broja unlikely to be fit enough to start.
Mykaylo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling should be tasked with providing support from the flanks as Chelsea go in search of their first Premier League goal in over a month.
Possible Chelsea XI vs Fulham (4-2-3-1) – Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Mudryk, Fernandez, Sterling; Palmer.
