The Premier League is finally back, after an unprecedented three month absence caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Clubs have been back at training for the last few weeks under strict restrictions in an attempt to get themselves match fit and ready to go again.
Football will not be the same for a while without having fans in the stadium, but I think most are excited to have an outlet of football to take their minds away from all that has been going on in the world during the last few months.
Chelsea face Aston Villa in their first game back on Sunday at 4:15pm as Frank Lampard looks to push ahead with his challenge to gain Champions League qualification.
The Blues have a pretty tough final nine matches with both Liverpool and Manchester City on the agenda.
But Lampard will once again have a fully fit squad to choose from; and even N’Golo Kante should be available for selection despite missing some of the earlier training sessions due to his fears about the virus.
Lampard now just has the not so easy task of selecting eleven players to start the match out of a massive squad and will probably go for a 4-3-3.
The only player currently missing is midfielder Jorginho, who is suspended for this match.
GK – Kepa Arrizabalaga
The Spaniard will surely keep his place after some better performances pre-lock down and showing a good attitude after being dropped.
RB – Reece James
James really broke through at the start of this season, and he has done more than enough to start at right full back.
CB – Antonio Rudiger
Lampard seems to have trust in Rudiger, although personally I’d rather see Kurt Zouma or Fikayo Tomori.
CB – Andreas Christensen
Christensen is arguably Lampard’s most comfortable ball playing centre-back, which is probably enough to see him start.
LB – Cesar Azpilicueta
The Chelsea captain will surely start, but likely at left back due to James’s rise on the right.
DM – Mateo Kovacic
In the absence of Jorginho, I believe Kovacic will be the deepest playing midfielder for Chelsea on Sunday.
CM – N’Golo Kante
I don’t think Lampard can ignore a fully fit Kante.
Generally considered as Chelsea’s only world class player currently.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is in for a shout to start, but the amount of time he has been out of football, it would be wise to ease him back in from the bench.
CM – Mason Mount
Mount has played every game so far for Lampard, so I wouldn’t expect him to be sitting the bench for this one.
LW – Christian Pulisic
An injury-free Pulisic with a point to prove could be very dangerous for Villa, I think he gets the nod now he has been training regularly again.
RW – Willian
I did write Callum Hudson-Odoi here, but he has been nursing a small injury so he is more likely to start on the bench.
CF – Tammy Abraham
Olivier Giroud was actually on fire before lock down, but I think Abraham gets the nod ahead of him on Sunday.
Mainly due to his goal scoring form this season, but also factoring in the motivation of playing against his former club.
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By: William Pugh
Title: How Chelsea will line up against Aston Villa with Kovacic, Mount and Kante in line to start with Jorginho banned
Sourced From: www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/11910802/chelsea-lineup-villa-kovacic-mount-kante/
Published Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2020 09:21:28 +0000
