Potter’s probable starting XI and formation at Chelsea in 2022/23

Veteran Thiago Silva will almost certainly be joining Koulibaly for all crucial matches. Whilst Silva failed with a challenge he’s made a thousand times against RBS, he is a true legend of the game and still has the skill set and mind to read contests beautifully. For Potter to be able to fit Cucurella into the setup at present, he may be playing as a left centreback. Unideal but possible.

The midfield department shall surely be strengthened and tighten up when the machine that is N’golo Kante returns. Patience must be kept with respect to Mason Mount! The Three Lions man is going through a dry spell but has proven quality at every level. Maybe being a kind of dual No.10 accompanied by Kai Havertz could be a winning combination.

The attacking area is still a muddle and a puzzle, although the fog is becoming clearer with the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. You can see my 3-4-1-2 suggestion combined with Potter’s probable preference with regard to first choice starters and system below.

Edouard Mendy; Cucurella, Silva, Koulibaly; Sterling, James (Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech or naturally Ben Chilwell could alternatively be deployed in these areas); Kante, Mateo Kovacic (Jorginho may pip the Croatian); Mount, Havertz; Aubameyang