Chelsea and Swansea City are under an hour away from kick-off as they return to Premier League action. Here are the confirmed line-ups for Antonio Conte and Francesco Guidolin.
With kick-off fast approaching, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Swansea City boss Francesco Guidolin have handed in their respective team sheets. Let’s take a look and see if there are any surprises.
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— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) September 11, 2016
Here's how the #Swans will line up against @ChelseaFC this afternoon... pic.twitter.com/MymRiLuP4t
Chelsea subs today: Begovic, David Luiz, Alonso, Fabregas, Moses, Pedro, Batshuayi. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 11, 2016
MORE CHELSEA: Chelsea visit Swansea: Key clashes and matchups
After putting in their best performance of the season against Burnley, Antonio Conte unsurprisingly names an unchanged team for the Swansea game.
Thibaut Courtois already looks significantly more solid than he did last season and thus his place was never under threat. The back four is also a familiar sight, with Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta continuing in their respective roles.
With the arrivals of David Luiz and Marcos Alonso on Transfer Deadline Day, many expected at least one of the new players to feature this afternoon. There was much talk about Luiz immediately slotting in and allowing Conte to play with a three-man defence.
The boss stated in his pre-match press conference that both new signings need a bit more time to gel with their teammates and this sentiment is reflected in the team selection.
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On that note, the likes of Ivanovic and Cahill can see this as an audition for starting positions. Luiz is almost certain to become a first-choice centre-back, while Alonso would be the fans’ preference over Ivanovic. A shaky display from either veteran could see him sentenced to the bench moving forward.
Chelsea again appear to be setting up in the 4-1-4-1 formation, with N’Golo Kante holding. He has been superb for the Blues thus far and will be tasked with keeping the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Leroy Fer quiet.
Nemanja Matic and Oscar comprise the advanced midfield duo. Both will be keen to impress given the competition for places. With Cesc Fabregas on the bench, Luiz’s ability to play in the midfield and Conte’s tendency to tinker with set-ups, neither of these players are assured of a spot.
Up front, Diego Costa is the lone striker as Michy Batshuayi is once again denied a Premier League start. Similarly, Costa will have to be on his toes to prove he is worth the place over the Belgian. Eden Hazard, meanwhile, will be eager to continue his dazzling start to the campaign.
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On the other side of affairs, the return of Neil Taylor allows Francesco Guidolin to go with a different system. A three/five-man defence supports a diamond midfield with two changes being made from their loss against Leicester City.
Modou Barrow and Wayne Routledge make way for Taylor and Ki Sung-yueng. Ki and Fer will be the dangerous midfielders for Swansea as both are enterprising with an eye for goal.
The Swans have also remarkably convinced Fernando Llorente to join them at the Liberty Stadium. The Athletic Bilbao great could really spoil Chelsea’s afternoon.
Other than that, Jefferson Montero will be a threat off the bench should Guidolin opt to use him.
Are you surprised by Antonio Conte’s selection? Let us know in the comments below!