Premier League football is truly back, but Chelsea fans have to wait longer than most to watch their team. Who are the players they will see in action?
For the very first time this season, Frank Lampard has a properly fit squad to choose from. Although Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fikayo Tomori are out for the match, every other player is up for selection on Sunday, including some individuals from the academy. However, with contract complications for Willian and Pedro, it remains to be seen if Lampard’s chooses to feature either winger, particularly if they will not be involved in games post-June.
If the duo is ruled out, the Englishman will have to tinker and come up with a different strategy, particularly against a Villa team desperate for points. He should, however, be sticking to the 4-3-3 that has given him the best results so far.
Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 1) Goalkeeper, Spain
After being left out in the cold by Lampard during Chelsea’s most crucial period, Arrizabalaga put in two excellent performances against Liverpool and Everton on his return, with the former arguably his best performance in a Chelsea shirt. Just as he was building momentum though, the pandemic struck and he was left in limbo again. The Spaniard has had a truly disappointing season between the sticks and will have to be at his best for the rest of the games to convince Lampard that he is the right man for the job. This task starts Sunday against Aston Villa.
Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right back, Spain
It wouldn’t matter what formation Lampard deploys or which position he is asked to play, Cesar Azpilicueta will start for the Blues. After a rocky start to the season, Chelsea’s captain recovered and has been ever-present for the team. While he could quite easily be deployed at left back to find space for Reece James in the line-up, Villa has only one big weapon in its arsenal in the form of Jack Grealish, who will primarily operate on the left. It would, therefore, be wise to ensure Azpilicueta silences the Villa’s captain all game and effectively nullifies the opposition’s attack.
Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Centerback, Germany
Predicting Lampard’s centreback pairing is like predicting the hand you’re going be dealt while playing poker; you never know what’s coming. Studying the Englishman’s patterns though can mitigate this unpredictability, as he has relied on Rudiger more often than not this season. The passionate German does a lot of things right, but has moments where he completely switches off and is unaware of his surroundings. In a game that will likely see Chelsea dominate possession, Lampard will hope a composed Rudiger shows up.
Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centerback, France
With Christensen nursing a fractured finger and Tomori suffering a slight knock, Zouma is primed to partner with Rudiger on Sunday. Starting him makes the most sense, as well, as he has been Chelsea’s best centreback this season. Zouma’s no-nonsense approach ensures that he sticks to the basics of defending, which often makes him cover for his partner’s mistakes. While he does have some uncomfortable moments on the ball, his defensive fortitude will be necessary for a game in which Villa will most likely employ counter-attacking football.
Marcos Alonso (No. 3) Left back, Spain
It is quite poetic that the player labelled as “someone who cannot defend” was a crucial part of the back line that mustered Chelsea’s best defensive displays all season against Liverpool and Everton. Alonso forms the last part of the same back line that earned those clean sheets and returns to the fold against Villa to give the team an added advantage with his offensive prowess. With Azpilicueta playing a relatively safer game on the right and Zouma covering for him on the left, Alonso will be given the license to push forward and ensure that Chelsea comes out with goals.