Predicted Chelsea XI vs Newcastle: 3-4-3 again after Man City performance

Chelsea played very well in the EFL Cup third round against Manchester City at the Etihad, absorbing pressure well and being very good on the counter. City were ultimately the better shooters on the day, squeezing nine shots on target despite just one clear-cut chance. The Blues, on the other hand, was the opposite: not scoring a goal despite three decent opportunities, and only managing five shots on target. There were some great performances on the night, but who does Graham Potter select to start the game against Newcastle United?

Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal

Mendy was near excellent against Man City. He completed 8/12 long balls he attempted, and made seven very good saves. He miscalculated Julian Alvarez’s run at him in the first three minutes of the game, which led to Alvarez closing him down and blocking his clearance. He recovered quickly though. His command of his area was superb, and the Blues were unlucky to lose in the manner they did.

Trevoh Chalobah (No. 14) Right centerback, England

Chalobah unsurprisingly was subbed off early as Potter had the Newcastle game in mind. Chelsea is short in the centerback department so expect to see a lot of the same faces for a while, or at least until the World Cup is over.