2. Striker Situation
Chelsea’s primary center-forward is Nicolas Jackson, while Marc Guiu has also been starting in the cup games. However, Monday’s match brought setbacks for both players. According to Enzo Maresca, Guiu’s injury appears to be serious. Even though Jackson’s was just a knock, he remains a doubt for Saturday’s match. That leaves Christopher Nkunku as the only fit senior player available to play as a center-forward.
Earlier in the season, Nkunku started as the striker in cup games before Guiu’s introduction to starting 11 pushed him into a deeper role. Now, Chelsea finds itself in a tough situation due to these injuries. They had the opportunity to sign a striker during the January transfer window, especially given Jackson’s struggles, but they chose not to, and now, that decision has come back to bite them. As things stand, Nkunku is the most likely option to lead the line at the Amex Stadium.