The Pride of London
Fansided

Chelsea predicted XI vs Morecambe: 4-2-3-1 returns in the FA Cup

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Billy Gilmour of Chelsea and James Milner of Liverpool during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on March 03, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Billy Gilmour of Chelsea and James Milner of Liverpool during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on March 03, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Chelsea’s Danish defender Andreas Christensen (2nd R) reacts beside Southampton’s English striker Theo Walcott (R) and Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (2nd L) as Chelsea’s Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech walks past after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London on October 17, 2020. (Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Danish defender Andreas Christensen (2nd R) reacts beside Southampton’s English striker Theo Walcott (R) and Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (2nd L) as Chelsea’s Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech walks past after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London on October 17, 2020. (Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea returns to action with a brief Premier League reprieve in the shape of the FA Cup. Who lines up against Morecambe as the Blues need rest and form?

Chelsea hosts Morecambe in its FA Cup third-round fixture. The game was initially at risk of being called off due to an outbreak of Coronavirus at the League Two side but things have since gotten better and the match is set to go on as planned.

The Blues come into this fixture on the back of one win in seven and pressure is increasingly mounting on Frank Lampard. Given the quality of opposition, Chelsea fans will not be reading too much into the outcome of this one (except if it goes wrong of course).

The Chelsea gaffer has an opportunity to rotate his team for the tie. Fringe players and academy prospects will see this as an opportunity to get ample game time. Here’s who we think will take to the field right from the off come Sunday:

Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 1), Goalkeeper, Spain

Arrizabalaga has lost his place as Chelsea’s number one goalkeeper. He has now assumed the role of “cup keeper” with his last appearance coming in the dead rubber Champions League group stage finale against Krasnodar. The Spaniard could well be on his way out of Stamford Bridge this month but he should feature in between the sticks for the game. In four games for Chelsea this season, he is yet to record a clean sheet but you would expect that to change at the sound of the final whistle.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28), Right back, Spain

With Reece James being Chelsea’s second and final absentee for the game, Azpilicueta remains the only senior right back available. However, there is an outside chance that a debut could be in line for Henry Lawrence as he, Tino Anjorin, and Lewis Bate have all been training with the first team of late. Lawrence could well feature at some point but may not get the nod right from the start.

Kurt Zouma (No. 15), Center back, France

Zouma and the entire Chelsea defense were very poor in the defeat to Manchester City last time out. If not for an injury to Andreas Christensen, then Zouma would have been sitting this one out like he did the for the Aston Villa game. Nonetheless, a game against this quality of opposition represents a fantastic opportunity to redeem himself for last week’s display as Chelsea look to get back to winning ways ahead of what is set to be a definitive period for Lampard.

Antonio Rudiger (No.2) Center back, Germany

Rudiger was a mainstay in the heart of Chelsea’s backline last season but has often found himself on the fringes since the arrival of Thiago Silva. Nonetheless, he has performed well whenever called upon. He is also one of many that are linked with exits from West London this winter in search of more first team opportunities. If a move is to materialize, then tomorrow’s game would be amongst his last as a Chelsea player.

Emerson (No. 33), Left back, Italy

The Italian played second fiddle to Marcos Alonso for most parts prior to Ben Chilwell’s arrival but he has since moved up the ladder in that particular duel. Despite still being the second choice, he now gets game time far more frequently than Alonso who hasn’t appeared for Chelsea since his horror show in a 3-3 draw at the Hawthorns. Alonso is set to leave Chelsea this month with a return to Spain looking like his most probable destination. Emerson got a rare league appearance when Chilwell pulled up early into the West Ham game and he did well on the night. Expect him to start once again tomorrow.

Home/FA Cup