With a five point lead on top of the Premier League table it’s time to set the focus on a whole other campaign – the FA Cup tournament. Chelsea will be facing Peterborough United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon at 1500 UK Time.
Despite Tottenham bravely succeeding to find the loophole in Antonio Conte’s nearly flawless 3-4-3 formation last weekend, when Spurs ended Chelsea’s 13-game winning streak with a 2-0 victory at White Hart Lane, it’s believed that the Italian will be sticking onto the same system on Sunday, only making some changes for the starting line-up.
We’ve made our prediction for the starting line-up to face the League One side on Sunday afternoon, with a total of EIGHT changes to the previous team selected.
GOALKEEPER:
Asmir Begovic is likely to return to action on Sunday, as he usually has in this this season’s Cup ties. The last game he played was the EFL Cup fixture against West Ham in October, when we got 2-1 hammered by the Hammers. Expecting a clean-sheet from him to increase his transfer value for the summer.
DEFENCE:
Antonio Conte today confirmed that Kurt Zouma will finally make his injury comeback and is a guaranteed starter for Sunday’s FA Cup clash. He’s fit, focused and surely prepared to impress the boss with still the whole second half of the season to go. John Terry has also been training normally after his minor injury and is likely to start with Gary Cahill in the heart of the defence.
MIDFIELD:
With Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso in need of some well-earned rest, Branislav Ivanovic could step in to replace the Nigerian on the right wing-back’s role, while Ola Aina might replace the Spaniard on the left-hand side. Nathaniel Chalobah, Conte’s number one youngster, is likely to play the full 90 minutes with Cesc Fabregas a probable partner next to him in the two-man midfield. Ruben Loftus-Cheek could also come in and feature for the Blues side.
ATTACK:
Willian didn’t get a start ahead of Pedro against Tottenham last time out, but is a strong favourite ahead of the Spaniard on Sunday, as he’s more fit and perhaps in a slightly better form. Conte is however reluctant to give Eden Hazard a rest, and could start him on Sunday – again. And finally, Michy Batshuayi will be getting his long-waited start in a Chelsea shirt. Just like Begovic between the sticks, the Belgian hasn’t started a game for Chelsea since October’s EFL Cup tie, but will be even hungrier to show the manager what he has in his back pocket.
