Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, with the Blues desperate to return to winning ways after last weekend's humiliating defeat to Leeds United. Thomas Tuchel's side were outclassed at Elland Road and the Chelsea head coach understandably cut a frustrated figure after the match.
Tuchel is looking for an instant response from his Chelsea side after a disjointed performance in Yorkshire. The Blues head coach said in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon that it's been "painful" to analyse what went wrong last Sunday.
"We always see a response," Tuchel said. "We absolutely dislike to lose, as painful as it is to analyse, it is necessary. We always get a response when the reasons are clear. We used [the full week] to get back in shape and install confidence."
READ MORE: Every word Thomas Tuchel said on Chelsea vs Leicester, Fofana, Gordon, Kante, Kovacic, Conte
Chelsea, though, will have to get back to winning ways without N'Golo Kante, who will be out for four weeks, as Tuchel confirmed on Friday. Mateo Kovacic isn't fit enough to start, either, but the Chelsea boss said the Croatian is ready to take some part at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will also be without the suspended Kalidou Koulibaly after he picked up two yellow cards against Leeds.
So, with all of this said – it creates some selection dilemmas. football.london's Chelsea writers Adam Newson, Scott Trotter, Daniel Childs and Bobby Vincent have a go at predicting the XI Tuchel will field on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Newson
Given the injury to N'Golo Kante, the fact Mateo Kovacic can only play 20 minutes (in the words of Tuchel), and Kalidou Koulibaly's suspension, there are several tricky decisions to make over who starts for Chelsea against Leicester City.
I would continue with Edouard Mendy despite his mistake against Leeds last weekend – and the only guarantee in the backline is Thiago Silva. I would bring in Marc Cucurella at left centre-back to cover Koulibaly and on the opposite side I'd bring in Trevoh Chalobah, whose height will be important.
Reece James can then be freed from a central defensive role and play at right wing-back and Ben Chilwell has to start on the left against his former club.
There is a big debate to be had over the central midfield position given Kante's absence and Kovacic's lack of match fitness, but I would go with Jorginho and Conor Gallagher once again and back the academy graduate to show his true level of performance after a difficult outing at Elland Road last weekend.
Three games into the campaign and no member of the attack has scored. I would continue with Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling but bring in Armando Broja. The Albania international hasn't had a pre-season so will not be fully up to speed but deserves a chance to step in for Kai Havertz.
Adam's team: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; James, Jorginho, Gallagher, Chilwell; Mount, Broja, Sterling
Bobby Vincent
For me, the midfield is the most interesting area this weekend. Conor Gallagher and Jorginho flattered to deceive against Leeds, and while the latter is likely to keep his place, the former could well drop out of the side. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who really impressed in the right wing-back role against Tottenham recently, is an option to come in and replace Gallagher.
Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended, so there needs to be a change on the left-hand side of defence for Chelsea. Personally, I would start Marc Cucurella on the left of the back-three and put Ben Chilwell in the wing-back role.
It's a position Cucurella played multiple times for Brighton and that was one of of the many reasons he was brought in. Thiago Silva in the centre and Trevoh Chalobah on the right.
There's a case for Armando Broja, with Kai Havertz's form really poor recently. I would, however, persist with Havertz – but he is definitely running out of chances.
Bobby's team: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Sterling, Havertz.
Scott Trotter
Much like last weekend there are crucial decisions to be made in Chelsea's backline and the centre of midfield. It's imperative to have the benefits of Reece James at wing-back, leaving two slots to fill either side of Thiago Silva. With Jamie Vardy in the opposition side, Trevoh Chalobah should come in for his first minutes of the season which then leaves the question of Cesar Azpilicueta or Marc Cucurella taking up the other spot.
Tuchel has already alluded to the full-back's ability to fulfil the role and his pace may be seen as key but the German coach may find his captain's experience difficult to turn down. That decision will then inform whether Ben Chilwell comes back into the line-up.
Jorginho and Conor Gallagher had a difficult outing against Leeds United, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek could have a solid shout of taking a role in the centre of the pitch. The Foxes are unlikely to bring the same pressing intensity as Leeds but even with Christian Pulisic only fit enough for a place on the bench, a change could still be tempting. Loftus-Cheek settled into the midfield well in the second period of last weekend's defeat and may have done enough to secure his place.
Chelsea's front three still has a lot to prove in front of goal, and there could be a temptation to make use of Armando Broja or Ben Chilwell on this occasion. Perhaps this offers the Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz their last chance to find a goal before the season's schedule picks up and rotation becomes common place.
Scott's team: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Sterling, Havertz
Daniel Childs
I have only one request to Thomas for this game: play Reece in his best, and only position, wing-back. Please, just for the fun and joy of this sport, do it. Across the team there are big dilemmas, not only in terms of form, tactical questions and attacking doubts, as he has to react to injury and suspension.
I would personally like to see Ruben Loftus-Cheek in a central-midfield role, with a back-three of Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella. Both Silva and Chalobah have been a threat from set pieces, which Leicester are pretty woeful at defending. Ben Chilwell ahead of them at wing-back.
Although it is unlikely, Kai Havertz needs to be dropped after some poor displays, with Armando Broja the big wildcard and focal point to try and spark something fresh in an attack that is very stale, despite personnel being available.
Daniel's team: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Sterling, Broja
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