Chelsea will be aiming to make it five wins from five under new boss Maurizio Sarri in the Premier League when they welcome Cardiff City to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues have already overcome Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Bournemouth in the season’s opening month to join Liverpool and Watford on maximum points.
Momentum has been disrupted somewhat by the international break, however, and Sarri will be wary of a Cardiff side that pushed Arsenal all the way in their most recent outing.
Ahead of this weekend’s meeting in West London, Sports Mole predicts how Chelsea will line up.
Doubtful: Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas remains Chelsea’s only injury doubt, giving Sarri plenty of options to choose from right across the field, particularly in central midfield.
Jorginho has played a pivotal role in making the Blues the most pass-happy side in the Premier League this season, while Mateo Kovacic has adapted well and N’Golo Kante has been as good as ever in a more attacking role.
Left-back Marcos Alonso has hit the ground running this term by scoring one and setting up two more, meanwhile, but reports suggest that Sarri is not so happy with his central-defensive duo of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger.
After keeping a clean sheet against Bournemouth last time out, however, any changes in the backline – injury dependent – are unlikely for this weekend’s match.
It is in attack that Sarri has his biggest decision to make, as Pedro scored a key goal from the bench against the Cherries to make it three strikes in four matches for him, so Willian could well make way out wide.