The last time Chelsea faced Norwich City in the Premier League, the Blues scored seven goals without reply. But Thomas Tuchel doesn't expect a repeat when the two sides face off at Carrow Road this evening.
"This is exceptional, it happens once a season (winning 7-0)," Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference. "It would be a big mistake to draw any conclusions from this game. We did not use it in preparation, we will not use it.
"We analyse the last matches from Norwich. They have a new coach. They have a new style in defending and approaching the game. A lot has changed. This should not affect our minds. This is absolutely clear.
"It's very important to consistently forget too much praise and stay humble, keep on going again, again and again in this kind of league.
"This is what the two top clubs, the two top teams [Man City and Liverpoo] show over recent years. This is where we want to join. If we want to join, of course, they are the underdogs.
"They have nothing to lose, these are these kinds of situations. We handle these very well, we know what it takes. It is on us to deliver.”
Tuchel will not be able to call upon Ben Chilwell – who is still expected to miss the remainder of the season following his partial ACL tear – and Reece James, who has suffered a muscular injury and is set to miss the next four matches.
But the rest of the squad is available for selection and with the trip to Carrow Road being the first of three matches in seven days, Tuchel may opt to rotate his side.
Edouard Mendy will start once more in goal, though. And the Senegal international will want to produce a composed display after a rare poor performance against Burnley.
Thiago Silva may be rested and that would see Andreas Christensen come into the middle of Tuchel's back three. Trevoh Chalobah would take up his position on the right and Antonio Rudiger would occupy the spot on the left.
Cesar Azpilicueta is the natural choice to replace James at right wing-back, although the Spaniard doesn't offer the same dynamism as the England international. It is the same story at left wing-back where Marcos Alonso should make his return after testing positive for Covid.
N'Golo Kante should keep his place in midfield and partner Mateo Kovacic, who was surprisingly named among the substitutes against Burnley.
It's in attack, as always, that Tuchel has big decisions to make and the German may opt to rest Kai Havertz and go with Romelu Lukaku as his number nine.
Christian Pulisic is in good form and should keep his spot on the right of the attack, while Mason Mount is the obvious candidate to start on the left.
Predicted Chelsea side: Mendy; Chalobah, Christensen, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Pulisic, Lukaku, Mount
