Graham Potter has made four changes to his Chelsea side for this evening’s Champions League group stage clash against FC Salzburg.
Chelsea can secure their place in the knockout stage - and top spot in Group E - this evening with victory at the Red Bull Arena. That will be far from easy, however, with the Austrian champions boasting an impressive home record.
There’s no change in the Chelsea goal, with Kepa Arrizabalaga continuing ahead of Edouard Mendy. The Spaniard had gone 10 hours without conceding prior to Casemiro scoring a later equaliser for Manchester United at the weekend.
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Potter has only named three defensive-minded players in his starting XI. Trevoh Chalobah is expected to line-up on the right of what looks to be a back three. Thiago Silva will occupy the central position with Marc Cucurella continuing at left centre-back, despite being replaced in the first half of Sunday's draw with United.
It appears as though Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic will be deployed as wing-backs in what is a very attacking side. Jorginho keeps his place in midfield, while there are recalls for Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher, who has shaken off the illness that forced him off against Brentford last week.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in his last two Champions League appearances and will be hoping to extend that run at the Red Bull Arena. Kai Havertz returns to the attack having been an unused substitute at the weekend. The German has been struggling for form in recent weeks, so will need to produce a strong performance.
Chelsea: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Sterling, Gallagher, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pulisic; Havertz, Aubameyang
Chelsea substitutes: Bettinelli, Mendy, Chilwell, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Zakaria, Chukwuemeka, Ziyech, Broja
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