Chelsea predicted XI vs. West Bromwich Albion: Blues go back to a 3-4-3

Chelsea takes on West Brom at the weekend and Frank Lampard has the chance to reignite a formation that has served him well in the past.

Three days separate Chelsea’s colossal victory over Barnsley in the Carabao Cup and the Blues’ Premier League trip to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, Frank Lampard has the squad depth to rotate and refresh, although he won’t want to disrupt the flow of a 6-0 winning side.

Slaven Bilic has opted for a three-man back line for the first time during his short tenure in the Midlands, hence the reasoning behind this predicted Chelsea XI line-up for the upcoming clash:

Willy Cabellero (No. 13) Goalkeeper, Argentina

Edouard Mendy will likely have to delay his debut a little longer as he accustoms himself to his new surroundings and teammates. There really seems no redemption for Kepa Arrizbalaga, hence why Cabellero keeps his place between the sticks. The veteran keeper has generally been reliable when called upon and with Thiago Silva now in motion, he hopefully won’t be tested too heavily against the Baggies.

Reece James (No. 24) Right wing-back, England

James sat out the midweek win over Barnsley, allowing Cesar Azpilicueta to get some minutes under his legs. It would be harsh for Lampard to now drop James after a good start to the season, instead of pigeon-holing the pair in as part of a back three/five. This will provide a license to roam forward with the added reassurance behind him; a recreation of that Brighton & Hove Albion performance would be nice.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Centreback, Spain

Having only just returned from injury, it would be unfair to ask the captain to bomb up and down the touchline as a fullback. Of course, Azpi would do that without a fuss. But to protect his aging legs, it’s best to give him more responsibility facing the play rather than worrying what’s happening behind him.

Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centreback, Brazil

Silva was not greatly examined during the Barnsley match and West Brom is far from clinical upfront. However, the Blues did greatly receive a clean sheet with the Brazilian in attendance, which can only bring confidence into a tie that will undoubtedly be a physical examination of the Blues’ metal.

Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centreback, France

Zouma has the potential to become one of the league’s finest centre halves, yet his growth has been stunted by the partners that he has been forced to pair with. Alongside Azpi and Silva, the Frenchman really can take his game to the next level. He will thrive in the close quarters contest that the Baggies will look to deploy.

Ben Chilwell (No. 21) Left wing-back, England

First appearance, first assist. Normal service resumed for Chilwell after coming from the bench against Barnsley, setting up Olivier Giroud with a delightful cross. He can really lay down the law as the first-choice left back with a couple more goal contributions, albeit in a refined position that does actually give him a platform to play on the front foot.

N’Golo Kante (No. 7) Central midfielder, France

Kante played no part on Wednesday evening, probably exhausted from the major shift he put in during the defeat to Liverpool last Sunday. There are few better sights than the midfield machine in full operation and he will enjoy the robust battle that Jake Livermore has to offer.

Mateo Kovacic (No. 17) Central midfielder, Croatia

On the other hand, Kovacic played the full 90 minutes midweek and although rotation is vital considering the fixture congestion, the Croatian is just too good to drop. His elegance is unrivaled by his fellow central midfielders and if he and Kante can form a consistent relationship in the Chelsea spine, who knows how far this team can climb.

Kai Havertz (No. 29) Right winger, Germany

“Hat-trick for Havertz” has a beautiful ring to it and although it may not be ushered frequently, taking home the match ball will have done the young star a world of good. As a part of the front three, Havertz can roam freely without the worry of dropping deep to receive the ball, nor his defensive duties. If he can get beyond the last man, like we’ve become accustomed to him doing in the Bundesliga, then the Baggies have a real test on their hands.

Timo Werner (No. 11) Striker, Germany

Werner will have been secretly fuming that his fellow countrymen was stealing all the goalscoring headlines. Yet, to open his competitive account, the striker could easily end his mini-duct against a West Brom defence that has shipped ten goals in three matches. His tireless runs in behind will certainly benefit Havertz and Mason Mount, but Lampard will want Werner to be more expressive closer to the opposition net.

Mason Mount (No. 19) Left winger, England

Seemingly undroppable, Mount keeps his place because he suits this system so well. His energy in the press was so beneficial last campaign, he simply needs to replicate that kind of persistence when West Brom has possession.

What do you think Chelsea’s XI will look like? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!