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Chelsea vs Brighton predicted XI: 3-4-3 in Liverpool tune-up match

By Gabe Henderson

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea applauds the fans during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on December 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea applauds the fans during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on December 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Mason Mount of Chelsea FC celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Mason Mount of Chelsea FC celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Mason Mount (No. 19) Right winger, England

Mason Mount is one of the Blues’ most important players—if not the most important. He single-handedly dragged his side through a rough December, scoring a number of clutch goals to help keep his team in the title race. Mount is one of those players that starts no questions asked when fit. Regardless of role and regardless of form, the soon-to-be 23-year-old makes Chelsea a better team when he’s in the starting XI. Mount had a quiet game against Aston Villa, but that was kind of to be expected given the fact the Blues played with a false nine in the first half. Nevertheless, they’ll need their star boy to have a huge impact against Brighton as he could prove to be the difference between a disappointing zero points or a massive three points.

Kai Havertz (No. 29) Center forward, Germany

They say to be a genius, one has to also be a little bit crazy. Tuchel is hailed as a tactical genius and he’s shown his ‘crazy’ side at times too. However, surely he’s not insane enough to try Pulisic as a false nine another time, right? There is no more data to be collected, that experiment needs to be over and honestly, should’ve never began. Pulisic is a solid Premier League player but the reality of the situation is he cannot play as a center forward. Kai Havertz can. It’d be too risky for Tuchel to start Lukaku as he was already rushed back to play against Aston Villa. Havertz is just coming back from COVID-19 isolation, which means he’ll also be a risky start. Unfortunately, the current situation requires teams to take risks daily. Chelsea needs to protect the long-term health of Lukaku given how important he is to the team’s success going into January. Therefore, expect someone like Havertz or Timo Werner to get the nod up top on Wednesday.

Christian Pulisic (No. 10) Left winger, United States

As stated above, Pulisic has flopped as a false nine. Hard. That said, he’s been healthy for a long stretch of games for one of the first times in his Premier League career. The Blues’ American sensation played well at right wingback on Boxing Day, further proving that all he needs to do is get into space to succeed. Hakim Ziyech’s status is unknown for the Brighton contest and Callum Hudson-Odoi needs to rest after playing 90 minutes on the back of a battle with COVID-19. Pulisic gets yet another chance to shine on Wednesday, this time in a more natural position.

Next. Opinion: Jude Soonsup-Bell should start for Chelsea against Brighton. dark

Who do you think makes the Blues’ starting XI? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

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