Chelsea visit Old Trafford this afternoon to take on Manchester United, with Maurizio Sarri’s men desperately needing all three points.
Especially with Tottenham losing at home to West Ham on Saturday, Chelsea cannot afford to slip up and fail to take advantage, just as they did on Monday.
With three points today we would take the initiative in the race for fourth, as well as only be trailing Tottenham on goal difference.
Sarri has to get his team selection right, and we believe that he’s going to go for something like this…
Kepa Arrizabalaga has the opportunity to prove today why he should be Spain number one ahead of the struggling David De Gea. He’ll start between the sticks.
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta will be hoping to lead his side to victory today, with Antonio Rudiger set to return from injury at right-centre-back.
David Luiz will be thankful that Sarri has began to favour Emerson Palmieri at left-back, who’s a far more sturdy option than Marcos Alonso.
Jorginho, though he has his critics, has been a mainstay in the starting eleven this term. There’s little doubt that he’ll be picked once again.
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N’Golo Kante was withdrawn at half-time on Monday with a suspected back injury. He may well miss out, with Mateo Kovacic likely to come in.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been utterly superb in recent weeks. Sarri has (finally) began to have faith in him, with him likely to start again today.
Willian will be quietly thankful that he can now get in the team ahead of the injured Callum Hudson-Odoi. His speed gives him the edge over Pedro for today’s game.
Eden Hazard will be playing what could be his last ever game against one of the Premier League’s big six, with Gonzalo Higuain set to start through the middle.
Full predicted XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Emerson, Jorginho, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Hazard, Higuain.
