Chelsea at Burnley predicted XI: Hakim Ziyech returns in a 3-4-1-2

Chelsea just dispatched Luton Town in the FA Cup fifth round in a match that was more difficult than it needed to be, in all honesty. A win was the most important thing though, and Romelu Lukaku made sure that the Blues were not dragged to extra time again, less than three days after they went to extra time against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. Chelsea needs to now put some distance between itself and every other top four contender. The Blues only took a point away from the reverse fixture of this game, even though they did enough to win the game overall.

Here’s who The Pride of London thinks gets the go-ahead for this trip to Burnley:

Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal

Edouard Mendy showed again why he’s the best goalkeeper in world football against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. He made six saves, denying the Reds a goal throughout 120 minutes of play. Many argued that Mendy should have stayed on because he was having such an excellent game. However, hindsight is a beautiful thing, especially when you remember that the last time Kepa Arrizabalaga was brought in for a penalty shootout, he won Chelsea the UEFA Super Cup in heroic fashion. Only Jose Sa has a higher save percentage than Mendy (81 percent) in the Premier League this season, which is why he starts between the sticks at Turf Moor.

Andreas Christensen (No. 28) Right centerback, Spain

Andreas Christensen has missed the last two games for Chelsea due to injury. He’ll definitely start if he’s fit given the small knocks all of the defenders are picking up. The Dane ranks second in the team for interceptions and clearances per game, as well as passing accuracy. He helps Chelsea play out from the back and his awareness also allows him to stop threats before they develop.

Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centerback, Brazil

Thiago Silva should return to the line-up against Burnley having sat out the game against Luton Town midweek. Silva leads Chelsea in passes per game, accurate long balls per game and passing accuracy. Silva is easily the best passer the Blues have in their defense. He made a crucial goal-line clearance against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. He’s a staple in the Chelsea back line when he’s fit. He even ranks fifth highest in the SofaScore ratings for all Premier League players, an impressive feat considering that he’s a centerback.

Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Left centerback, Germany

Antonio Rudiger is another must-start when fit. He didn’t have a good game against Luton Town, but the circumstances surrounding that game are so unique that it’s difficult to take too much away from that performance. He attempted many long balls, as he usually does, though only completing two out of 10.