Victory for Chelsea on Saturday against Brentford could lift Mauricio Pochettino’s side above West Ham and Manchester United in the Premier League.
The Blues have improved of late but couldn’t quite hold on after taking a two-goal lead against Arsenal last time out after Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk had struck at Stamford Bridge.
Key players are returning for Pochettino and the visit of Brentford presents a good opportunity for the Argentinian to record his fourth league win with Chelsea ahead of a tough-looking run of fixtures in November and December.
Here’s the side the Blues could deploy on Saturday lunchtime.
GK: Robert Sanchez – Was getting plenty of praise for some improved performances between the sticks, so obviously he made a glaring mistake to gift Declan Rice a goal with his side 2-0 up.
RB: Reece James – Made his return from injury from the bench and should be fit enough to start from the off.
CB: Thiago Silva – Hasn’t played for Brazil since the 2022 World Cup but recently revealed he is prepared to join the Selecao for upcoming games.
CB: Levi Colwill – Nailing down a centre-back spot in the absence of Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.
LB: Marc Cucurella – Had a solid outing against Bukayo Saka last time out and should get a decent run in his natural left-back role with Ben Chilwell still out with injury.
CM: Moises Caicedo – Pochettino claimed he would be killed by the media and Chelsea‘s owners if he didn’t start Caicedo and midfield partner Fernandez against Arsenal despite the pair flying around South America and back again during the October international break.
CM: Enzo Fernandez – Had to play peacemaker when Sterling tried to poach penalty duties off Palmer, who netted his spot-kick against Arsenal.
RW: Cole Palmer – Mistakenly threw a water bottle at Pochettino and admitted he’s hoping not to be dropped as a result. It would show him for not recycling, in all fairness.
AM: Conor Gallagher – Tireless energy has been important for Chelsea’s high press, contributing two assists in his last three games.
LM: Mykhailo Mudryk – The debate over whether he meant his goal against Arsenal has raged on this week, with the Ukrainian himself insisting it was “something between the cross and the shot”.
ST: Raheem Sterling – Will drift around the forward line but could do without getting into any more scraps over penalties, especially with his on-field relationship with Palmer looking promising elsewhere.
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