Chelsea has picked up two points from a possible 12, and they are desperately in need of something to go their way. The one thing Graham Potter has in his favor for the Carabao Cup game against Manchester City tomorrow is that Pep Guardiola is not likely to put out a full-strength squad. The irritation around Potter and the performances will only go up if the Blues lose this game, but things are likely to get much worse before they get better, if they get better.
Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Chelsea Goalkeeper, Senegal
Mendy made a brilliant save to deny Arsenal on Sunday. Many have blamed him for the goal conceded but the cross from Bukayo Saka went through Kai Havertz and Thiago Silva, and Silva was blocking Mendy, so the Senegal keeper saw it very late.
Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right centerback, Spain
The Chelsea captain was OK against Arsenal, but no one would have noticed because the average performance on the day was poor. He’s 32-years-old and should not be playing again so soon after Sunday, but what choice does Potter have?
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (No.12) Centerback, England
Loftus-Cheek has been trusted with many different roles this season for Chelsea, what’s one more, eh?
Kalidou Koulibaly (No. 26) Left centerback, Senegal
Chelsea would have loved to rest Koulibaly too, but they don’t have that luxury. Koulibaly has not been excellent this season, but he’s playing in a new team, in a new league in a different country. He’s allowed some adjustment.
Lewis Hall (No. 67) Left wingback, England
Hall may make an appearance for the first team this season. He had a very strong cup performance for the Blues last season. Hopefully, he has another one tomorrow.
Hakim Ziyech (No. 22) Right wingback, Morocco
Ziyech has come under fire for reposting an Instagram post by his former club, marking the day Ajax played against CFC and drew 4-4, largely thanks to himself. Of course, the backlash has nothing to do with the supposed loyalty the fans expect him to have towards a club that has sidelined and ignored him extensively, but everything to do with the fact he’s Hakim Ziyech.
Denis Zakaria (No. 8) Central midfielder, Switzerland
Zakaria deserved more than zero minutes against Arsenal and Potter cannot successfully defend his decision to start him on the bench, talk less of leaving him there throughout the game. The west London team’s midfield has not been great this season, but they looked very good against Dinamo Zagreb last Wednesday thanks to Zakaria, yet he got snubbed for the entirety of the Arsenal game.
Conor Gallagher (No. 12) Central midfielder, England
Gallagher is not Potter’s ideal player to play in the pivot, but as important as this game is, the Newcastle game at the weekend is more important. If Gallagher plays well in the pivot, he may get more starts there, but he needs to get these opportunities in certain types of games, like this one. He’d need to show the discipline he’s not been able to show in that position so far.
Christian Pulisic (No. 19) Left attacking midfielder, United States
Pulisic has deserved more starts than he’s gotten so far, and it’s alarming how many players in the squad that statement can be made for.
Raheem Sterling (No. 17) Right attacking midfielder, England
If Mount can be given the chance to play his way into form, surely the same courtesy can be extended to the Blues‘ highest-paid player, no? Sterling has been in bad form and considering that the Citizens will likely not go full strength, this may be an opportunity for the Englishman to get some goals on the board.
Armando Broja (No. 18) Center forward, Albania
Broja will get a start partly because it’s unfair he hasn’t gotten one already, and partly because the other forwards need to be rested for Saturday, not that they’ve done anything to deserve rests, but still. The Albanian has shown good things in the games he’s featured in this season, and he has only started one game in the Premier League.