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Chelsea predicted XI at Sheffield: The usual suspects

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea FC at Selhurst Park on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Justin Tallis/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea FC at Selhurst Park on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Justin Tallis/Pool via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s French defender Kurt Zouma (R) tangles with Crystal Palace’s Zaire-born Belgian striker Christian Benteke (C) during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park in south London on July 7, 2020. (Photo by PETER CZIBORRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s French defender Kurt Zouma (R) tangles with Crystal Palace’s Zaire-born Belgian striker Christian Benteke (C) during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park in south London on July 7, 2020. (Photo by PETER CZIBORRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea tries to stay ahead of the pack after moving up to third mid-week. Here is the XI we believe will try and take three points from the Blades.

Chelsea was only able to walk away from Stamford Bridge with a point the last time these two sides met, after the Blades erased a 2-0 deficit. The Blues cannot afford to take less than three points from the fixture this time though. We take look at who we think Frank Lampard will trust to get him these much needed three points:

Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 1) Goalkeeper, Spain

Did Arrizabalaga have a great save against Crystal Palace? Yes. Could he have done better for the first goal? Yes. Did he have a horrible game? No.

It was a bad day in the office, but it happens. Arrizabalaga’s positioning is something that has been an issue all season though. He should have gotten better at saving goals like that first goal against Palace. The Spaniard will bounce back—no doubt—but these are things that differentiate a good goalkeeper from an elite goalkeeper.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right back, Spain

Azpilicueta has been Chelsea’s most consistent defender this season. There’s a reason he has started and played every minute of every Premier League match for Chelsea this season—bar two. He is Chelsea’s only hope of actually defending the wings in any given match. He has been playing well and has been contributing at both ends of the pitch; from both sides. Expect Azpilicueta to start again and again and again and—well, you get it.

Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centerback, France

Zouma is Chelsea’s best centerback. His tackling, positioning and game intelligence are second to no other Chelsea defender. Zouma’s conceded penalty and own goal against Manchester United and Sheffield United respectively tainted fans’ opinion of him. Unfortunately, it took an other-worldly tackle in the 95′ of a derby game for fans to finally appreciate his contribution to the team. Needless to say, Zouma is the only centerback who picks himself by merit.

Andreas Christensen (No. 4) Centerback, Denmark

Christensen has been more consistent than Antonio Rudiger, though that doesn’t really say much. It’s anyone’s guess who Lampard selects to partner alongside Zouma. There’s a better choice, but there isn’t really a ‘right’ choice. Christensen did not have a good game against Palace, he did have his moments though. The Zouma-Christensen partnership seems to have some promise, at least for the rest of the season, unless Christensen keeps dropping Palace-type performances.

Marcos Alonso (No. 3) Left back, Spain

Alonso comes third with most key passes per game (1.4) for Chelsea this season. Alonso’s attributes would prove very useful against Sheffield. The 29-year-old has been the second most consistent player after Willian this season, going by match ratings. Strange sounding, I know.

Alonso made four key passes in his last appearance for Chelsea. Alonso’s contribution in Chelsea’s attack is understated. He has good communication with the defense, and with his opposite full back. For a player that is not known to be quick, he sure covers a lot of ground. Sheffield would also try to hurt Chelsea on set-pieces and Alonso can help neutralize that threat.

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