How Chelsea could line up against Liverpool
Despite what their place in the Premier League table would suggest, Chelsea have actually been enjoying a run of good form of late, with five wins, one draw and just one loss in their last seven games in all competitions.
Those wins have seen them slowly climb up the league table, but perhaps more importantly for their season, it has seen them sneak into a League Cup final and the FA Cup fifth round.
The situation is looking much rosier for Mauricio Pochettino as things stand. Still, a week is a long time in football, and with the transfer window slamming shut at the end of this one, the Argentine could still catch the ire of the Stamford Bridge crowd if he oversees the sale of Conor Gallagher.
The Englishman has been one of the few consistently good players for the club this season and has taken the captain’s armband in the absence of Reece James, yet rumours of his potential sale persist.
With this in mind, the links to other dynamic midfielders begin to make more sense, although if Todd Boehly and Co proceed with their plan to sell the fan favourite, they better hope that his replacement hits the ground running – let’s take a look at three of them.
The first name on this list is one of the most highly thought of youngsters in world football, so much so that the German and English national sides battled it out to secure his services a few years ago, a battle Die Mannschaft eventually won. The player in question is, of course, Bayern Munich’s jewel, Jamal Musiala.
The 20-year-old was touted for an £87m move to west London earlier this month, and if the Chelsea ownership want to appease any fan anger over the potential sale of Gallagher, then signing the German superstar in his place is about the best thing they could do.
Chelsea could be without as many as 11 players for Wednesday’s encounter with Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu (both hamstring), Wesley Fofana (ACL), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Romeo Lavia and Trevoh Chalobah (both thigh) all remain in the treatment room, while Nicolas Jackson is away with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Blues duo Christopher Nkunku (hip) and Malo Gusto (knock) have been spotted in training this week, the latter only taking part in individual sessions, and both players will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Levi Colwill is also a doubt after he was forced to pull out of Chelsea’s starting lineup prior to last Friday’s goalless draw with Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round after sustaining an unspecified issue in the warm-up.
The potential absence of Colwill could see Benoit Badiashile continue at left-back, but head coach Mauricio Pochettino may be tempted to hand Ben Chilwell his first Premier League start since September last year now that the Englishman has recovered from a hamstring problem.
Alfie Gilchrist was handed a start at right-back against Villa, but the potential return of Chilwell to the first XI could see the youngster drop out and the remaining members of Friday’s back four shift across to the right, with Axel Disasi taking up the right-back spot.
Pochettino will ponder whether to stick with Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s top scorer in all competitions with 11 goals, as a false nine or recall striker Armando Broja to lead the line.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Broja