Premier League giants Chelsea will be hoping to build on their sensational FA Cup victory against runaway league leaders Liverpool, by getting the better of Everton this weekend. The Blues even have to worry about their Champions League round of 16 clash against Bayern Munich, wherein the London side will attempt to overturn a three-goal deficit at the Allianz Arena.
While the win against Liverpool was undoubtedly an excellent achievement, demanding a comeback against the German champions would be pushing it. Frank Lampard must instead think only about the short-term, and utilise his best possible eleven to gain maximum points from their home fixture against the Toffees. The first meeting between these two sides ended in a 3-1 victory for the Merseyside outfit, and Lampard’s men must surely be eager to put things right when they welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge.
Team News
Frank Lampard has manoeuvred the last couple of months of Premier League action without the services of some of his most important players, and that’s something that needs to be commended. Despite this, the biggest worries for Chelsea fans going into this crucial part of their season will surely all be injury-related.
Key names like Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante have been missing for some time now. At the same time, the recent knocks picked up by Mateo Kovacic and Willian will further pile the pressure onto the gaffer’s shoulders. Jorginho is suspended following a collection of yellow cards and is hence unavailable for three fixtures.
Predicted 3-4-3 Chelsea Lineup Vs Everton
Formation: 3-4-3
Defence
Spanish shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga took massive strides towards restoring his reputation at Stamford Bridge after he put up a truly inspired display against the Reds in midweek. The former La Liga custodian should make his return to Lampard’s first-team for this fixture. Andreas Christensen, Fikayo Tomori and Antonio Rudiger are expected to operate as the three Chelsea centre-halves.
Midfield
The Blues’ biggest influence in the middle of the park this season has unquestionably been Mateo Kovacic. Although the Croatian started the game in midweek, an unfortunate first-half injury forced him off, meaning that Lampard will have limited options to choose from this weekend. Billy Gilmour is set to keep his place in the core of the side, with Ross Barkley expected to partner him in the centre of the park. Reece James and Marcos Alonso will be tasked with the responsibility of providing Chelsea width while going forward.
Attack
In the absence of some key names in the forward areas, Frank Lampard is restricted to just four realistic options in the attacking areas. Michy Batshuayi has struggled to pick up any momentum this year, meaning he’s unlikely to start. Instead, Olivier Giroud, Pedro and Mason Mount will be required to form a make-shift front three, where the Frenchman will have to act as the target man that guides this Chelsea side in the right direction.