Chelsea predicted XI: Minimal changes available for Norwich

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard may want to shake it up, but injuries prevent him from making too many changes for Norwich in the midweek clash.

The Blues were, from top to bottom and to a man, horrible against Sheffield United. Take nothing away from the Blades who were fantastic but Chelsea offered nothing like a challenge. The pain cannot be dwelt on for long, however, as the Blues need to turn their attention to a newly promoted side (that just got relegated). Norwich is going down, but they have nothing to lose as Frank Lampard needs to find a solution with few options available to him.

Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 1) Goalkeeper, Spain

Arrizabalaga’s save on the first goal was amazing yet unfortunate. Basically, it encapsulated his Chelsea career thus far. The talent is there, it is just incredibly inconsistent and when it is revealed, the timing is often less than ideal. The Blues seem to be taking a top down approach to their rebuild, leaving the keeper spot for last, but Arrizabalaga surely cannot feel secure going into the summer after this season.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right back, Spain

There was a time where Azpilicueta was truly an elite left back. Those times have passed. Full backs are now expected to be what box to box midfielders used to be: good at every facet of the game and full of energy. Azpilicueta simply cannot check all those boxes anymore, especially not away from his natural side. He still has more to offer than some of the other options, but he needs to show more of it as this season closes.

Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centerback, France

Zouma is Chelsea’s best center back. The stats back that up. Finding him an ideal partner, both this season and next, should be one of the club’s priorities. Yet, the rumors of a center back leaving are strongest around him. It is baffling. Is Zouma world class? No. But give him a world class partner and he can become much better than he currently is. He should be the safest center back, not the least secure.

Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Centerback, Germany

Usually after matches like Sheffield, Lampard will shake some things up. Sometimes it is a formation change, others it is simply rotation. Andreas Christensen did his usual of looking great for a game before looking like he is brand new to the sport. Whatever happened in Barcelona still casts a shadow on him and he has yet to recover. Lampard is low on options, so he will have to hope Rudiger looks at all like he used to against Norwich.

Marcos Alonso (No. 3) Left back, Spain

Reece James is not being dropped because he is not worth developing, but these situations generally seem to lead to Lampard going with experience while giving the youth some rest. Enter Alonso who has passed Emerson in the pecking order while being passed by Azpilicueta at the same time. If one left back is to stay next season, it is good that it is Alonso, but he will surely want more than a bench role.