Chelsea have the needs and the players to field a 3-5-2 against Tottenham

Things got worse for Chelsea in most aspects of the game against Manchester United. A 3-5-2 formation may be the best use of the available players while addressing the expanding vulnerabilities.

Chelsea lost N’Golo Kante indefinitely on Monday, and Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi are still uncertain. The game against Manchester United showed Chelsea’s continued inability to create from the wings, score from the centre or defend effectively: all issues that will be exacerbated by the missing players. If there’s one thing Frank Lampard can borrow from Jose Mourinho’s playbook for this weekend, it’s a siege mentality.

Chelsea have used a three-man back-line only twice in the Premier League this season. The first time was the reverse fixture, which the Blues won 2-0 for one of the high points of Frank Lampard’s first season. The needs he has to address with the players he has available suggest a 3-5-2 could be the best set-up on Saturday.

Both goals Chelsea conceded to Manchester United involved a lapse by the centrebacks. Yes, Andreas Christensen had a newly broken nose when Anthony Martial took advantage of the space Christensen gave him, but intact facial structures have not helped Chelsea much this season. Even if Chelsea had a reliable centreback pairing, the goalkeeper situation cries out for an extra defender to minimize Kepa Arrizabalaga’s chances to dig his hole any deeper and Willy Caballero’s chances to be a wildcard 38-year old.

The December 22 game at Tottenham was – and remains – Marcos Alonso’s only Premier League appearance since October 26. Alonso put in a man of the match performance in the left wing-back position he defined for Chelsea.

Alonso at left wing-back and Reece James at right wing-back would give Chelsea two high-quality sources of crosses into the box; as well as intelligent movement towards the centre. James has shown many of Alonso’s tendencies to drift centrally during prolonged offensive possession, allowing him to take shots from the top of the box or quickly connect play between a higher, wider winger, a central midfielder or a player running through the defensive lines in the box. Using these two as wing-backs would distort Tottenham’s defence, as the Hotspurs would need to cover the same large areas that Alonso and James make their own.

Having the third centreback and a three-man midfield would give two options for Cesar Azpilicueta. Andreas Christensen should be able to play wearing the Zorro mask, which would Lampard four midfielders from which to choose his three. If Christensen is not available, Azpilicueta would be the reserve option.

But Azpilicueta should start in defensive midfield. Even with three centrebacks, without N’Golo Kante the Blues will need a true defensive presence in their midfield to take on Stephen Bergwijn, Dele Alli and Lucas Moura. By playing on the right side of midfield, Azpilicueta will support James on the right as well as covering attacks through the middle.

Azpilicueta could do even more to push forward and interplay with Reece James by starting Billy Gilmour. Gilmour is scrappier and more defensive than Jorginho, so he could reinforce Azpilicueta defensively while enabling Azpilicueta to contribute on the attack. That would give Chelsea three long-distance passing lanes – Alonso, James and Azpilicueta – over and through a Jose Mourinho defensive block, the type Chelsea have been impotent against all season.

Either Mateo Kovacic or Jorginho would be the third midfielder. Kovacic would lead the transitions and bring the play through midfield and maybe to the edge of Tottenham’s box, as he did against Manchester United. But in those positions he would run into the same situation he did on Monday: no options to pass to and a wall of defenders in front of him. The other option would be to bring play up the flanks and then have Jorginho as the third midfielder at the top of the final third looking for the short, quick, narrow passes that can open a seam in Tottenham’s block.

Given the performances on Monday, if Tammy Abraham is still out Olivier Giroud should start at striker, especially given Reece James and Marcos Alonso on the flanks. Giroud is the perfect target man for the wingbacks, and the Blues would need his hold-up play if they have three midfielders and no wingers.

That leaves the second / shadow striker position as the one with the most options and flexibility. Mason Mount often plays as a shadow striker close to Tammy Abraham. Giroud’s ability to control the ball from all body positions and lay it off with a short pass would give Mount every opportunity to score from tight areas within the box.

Alternatively, Willian could play more as a No. 10 in support of Giroud, connecting the wingbacks to the striker and helping Chelsea maintain possession and subtly switch the point of attack.

Lampard could go for pure power up top, by playing Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud together. This would be by far the most unfamiliar lineup, which cut could both ways. However, Lampard had no issue playing a new XI full of rarely-seen players against Manchester United, so he is not averse to doing so.

And, of course, the long-shot option is using Ross Barkley as the shadow striker alongside Giroud. Barkley would drop deeper to receive the ball while Olivier Giroud stayed on the centrebacks’ shoulders. This would force Tottenham to either come off their line to challenge Barkley’s driving runs at the expense of leaving open Giroud or a wingback cutting in, or giving Barkley the space to take a long range shot with Giroud ready to poach the rebound.

Chelsea need new ways to protect their own goal and attack their opponent’s. They are missing too many players to make simple swaps and adjustments.

Frank Lampard out-strategized Jose Mourinho once this season. It’s hard to tell when Lampard reverts to what is known and when he’ll take his chances with something new, but after recent games and with so many missing players it’s hard to make the case for sticking the course.