Chelsea vs Everton predicted XI: Tuchel’s usual 3-4-3
Chelsea goes head-to-head with Rafa Benitez’s Everton at Stamford Bridge. The Blues managed to snatch three points away from Leeds United last game as Jorginho scored an injury-time penalty. The defence has looked vulnerable in the last four to five games and Tuchel will definitely be worried. Tuchel’s side is currently struggling with a number of key players injured and it will be interesting to see his gameplan against Everton. The Toffees have been poor in the Premier League as they sit 14th and this is the ideal game for Chelsea to gain some confidence.
Here is the Blues’ predicted XI for Thursday’s game against Everton:
Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal
Edouard Mendy is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but he committed costly errors against West Ham. While he did concede two goals against Leeds United, he looked a lot more confident and calm on the ball. The Blues will need Mendy to be at the top of his game as many key players are on the verge of injury. Expect a dominant performance from Chelsea’s goalkeeper as the Blues look to keep a clean sheet on Thursday.
Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right centerback, Spain
Chelsea’s captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, has not been starting regularly recently. The right-sided centerback position was often occupied by the young Trevoh Chalobah, who suffered an injury and won’t be fit to start this game. Therefore, it is time to call upon Azpilicueta again. The Blues have conceded 10 goals in the past five games and Azpilicueta’s presence will be essential to ensure defensive stability against Everton.
Andreas Christensen (No. 4) Centerback, Denmark
Andreas Christensen was in fine form when the season started. It looked like he would be the starting centreback going forward as Tuchel needed to manage Thiago Silva carefully. However, since Tuchel’s comments on the contract situation, Christensen has looked lost. It is clear that something is on his mind and he is struggling to focus on his football. He was caught out of position a couple of times against West Ham and Zenit. Tuchel handles the media well, and he chose to mention the contract in a press conference, which means this is an issue that he has discussed extensively with the player. With fixtures piling up, Silva needs to rest and should not start three games in a row. Expect Christensen to start against Everton and put in a solid shift.
Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Left centerback, Germany
Antonio Rudiger’s contract situation continues to divide the Chelsea fanbase. While a number of fans feel that Rudiger deserves an extravagant wage hike, there is a section of fans that have their reservations about the issue. Regardless of what the fans think, Rudiger has the right to do what he is doing, especially when we consider the alternatives in his position. As far as his performances are concerned, Rudiger hasn’t had a great time in defence as Chelsea has shipped several goals in recently. However, he has made his presence felt in the opposite half with his trademark runs and positions where he has won match-winning penalties.