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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Confirmed Chelsea team vs Leeds United – Fofana and Badiashile start, Havertz keeps place

Graham Potter has made three changes to his Chelsea side for this afternoon's must-win Premier League clash against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge.

Kepa Arrizabalaga starts in goal for the Blues once more; Edouard Mendy is not included in the squad as he continues to recover from surgery on a fractured finger.

Potter has opted to go with a back three in the absence of Thiago Silva, who suffered a knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Wesley Fofana comes into the backline for his first start since October and is set to be deployed on the right. Kalidou Koulibaly will be in the middle and Benoit Badiashile on the left.

READ MORE: Graham Potter reveals how Chelsea can replace Thiago Silva and gives verdict on squad support

With Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta ruled out, it's Ruben Loftus-Cheek who has been drafted in to play at right wing-back. Ben Chilwell keeps his place at left wing-back and there is no room in the squad for Marc Cucurella, who was signed from Brighton for £62million in the summer.

Enzo Fernandez maintains his record of starting in every game for Chelsea following his move from Benfica. The Argentine will be partnered in midfield by Mateo Kovacic, who has returned after missing the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to an illness.

In what is a three-man attack, Joao Felix is expected to be deployed off the left flank. Raheem Sterling will play off the right and Kai Havertz starts as the central forward, despite the German only scoring twice since the World Cup break. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is among the substitutes.

Chelsea: Kepa; Fofana, Koulibaly, Badiashile; Loftus-Cheek, Enzo, Kovacic, Chilwell; Joao Felix, Havertz, Sterling

Chelsea substitutes: Bettinelli, Aubameyang, Chalobah, Mudryk, Zakaria, Ziyech, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Madueke.

READ NEXT :

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Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge

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