Chelsea XI: Lampard hands out two debuts, many days off, two big returns

Frank Lampard is bringing Michy Batshuayi and Christian Pulisic in from the cold while giving Reece James and Marc Guehi their Chelsea first-team debuts. The Blues’ starting XI gives a day off to those who need it, and a start for those who need one.

Go ahead and try to figure out what formation Frank Lampard has in mind with his starting XI against Grimsby Town. Chelsea will have a four-man defence featuring two first-team debutants – Reece James at right back and Marc Guehi at centreback – and Michy Batshuayi up top. But everything in between is completely up for grabs. If you argue it’s a 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1, you have equal chances of being right or wrong.

Then again, there was some speculation over the last few weeks that Reece James might just have the makings of a centreback. In that case maybe this is a three-man defence and Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic are the wingbacks while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Pedro are the wingers flanking Batshuayi.

The 3-4-3 is very familiar to Chelsea’s academy graduates, of which there are 10 in this matchday 18. Jorginho is the only substitute not to come through the Cobham pipeline.

Frank Lampard is either taking all the chances with this game, banking on the fact that Chelsea are not Tottenham to minimize the risk of an upset to a League Two team, or he is taking no more chances with the readiness of his key players.

Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Jorginho are the only Premier League / Champions League regulars in this matchday squad, and they are all starting on the bench. Marcos Alonso and Fikayo Tomori are making their way into the main XI, and both can expect to play twice a week until the October international break given their respective performances and the injury to Emerson Palmieri. But crucially, Lampard has chosen to rest fully Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Willian; and will likely hope to keep Mount, Abraham and Jorginho on the bench.

If the Blues can take control of the game by the hour mark (or even half time), Lampard will likely aim to withdraw James and Hudson-Odoi. They have so far played only two games with the Development Squad in the Premier League 2 since returning from injury, topping out at around 70 minutes. The pair are building their match fitness, and this cup tie is a significant step forward. But 45-60 minutes against League Two opposition is sufficient to ensure it remains a step forward, and does not backfire into a reversal.

It’s absolutely laughable to compare – even that word seems inappropriate – Frank Lampard’s use of youth and rotation to what Chelsea experienced last year under Maurizio Sarri. Transfer ban or not, Lampard is operating on a longer horizon than any coach Chelsea have had in years.

If you can’t enjoy a lineup like this and the game this will be, we’re not quite sure why you’re here.