Predicted Chelsea XI vs Fulham: Badiashile returns to lineup in 4-2-3-1
There are already reports of internal discussions going on at Chelsea concerning Mauricio Pochettino's tactical setup and general team management. Some players are said to have started complaining about the role they have been asked to play in this system. It's easy to see the source of the player's concern. Colwill continuing to play at left back shows that Pochettino is willingly playing players out of position, as Ian Maatsen is an actual left back who has played anywhere but left back for the Blues this season, including preseason.
Chelsea has lost the first leg of the semifinal tie of the EFL Cup, and that puts more pressure on the Blues boss. Yes, the west London side has had injuries, but the club has so many players on their roster that it is difficult to explain away the club's situation with injuries. Pochettino takes on the second league derby in three games, welcoming Fulham to Stamford Bridge in what is certainly going to be an explosive fixture. Here is our predicted lineup for the game.
Dorde Petrovic (No. 28) Goalkeeper, Serbia
Petrovic has gotten golden opportunities and he's doing well with them so far. The injury to Robert Sanchez has meant that Petrovic has started every game since the Spaniard was injured, including cup games. Petrovic unfortunately has only kept one clean sheet in the league since coming into the side, and that was against bottom-placed Sheffield United. He is not solely responsible for the lack of clean sheets, if at all, but he is averaging a 68% save rate in the league so far, which is not spectacular.
Malo Gusto (No. 27) Right back, France
Gusto was not rested against Middlesbrough but he still has to play against Fulham. He has been very good for the Blues, and even though many say he has no chance of starting when the captain Reece James returns, it's important to note that Gusto is still adjusting to Premier League football and he will only get better from here.
Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centerback, Brazil
You can expect Silva to start here again, despite playing on Tuesday night. Pochettino has shown that he doesn't feel the need to rest Silva, even though the 39-year-old has not been able to give optimum performances while playing twice a week. Silva's experience and reading of the game would be an addition to the Blues though.
Benoit Badiashile (No. 5) Centerback, France
Badiashile has returned to full team training and should be ready to start again, especially because it wasn't a serious injury. Badiashile would help restore some control to the games. Chelsea won the reverse fixture of this game, but the Blues still look like they are one counterattack away from losing games, which is alarming. The Frenchman would especially bring aerial dominance and ball distribution,
Levi Colwill (No. 26) Left back, England
Colwill shouldn't continue to play at left back, but Pochettino isn't even remotely interested in what Ian Maatsen has to offer there, so here we are. Colwill has been good defensively in recent games, especially in the cups. His aerial prowess does not go unnoticed.
Moises Caicedo (No. 25) Central midfielder, Ecuador
Caicedo has been very good in recent weeks, and while many still find him underwhelming, Chelsea needs him to be consistently good.
Enzo Fernandez (No. 8) Central midfielder, Argentina
Fernandez came back into the side and had a solid game against Middlesbrough. He would need to have another complete performance against Fulham as Joao Palhinha has been one of the best ball-winners in midfield this season.
Noni Madueke (No. 11) Right winger, England
Madueke is likely to get more chances as a right winger now that Nicolas Jackson is away at the African Cup of Nations. He had a very good game against Middlesbrough and he has a chance to build on that performance if he starts again versus Fulham.
Conor Gallagher (No. 23) Central attacking midfielder, England
Gallagher wasn't great against Middlesbrough, but he has been superb in the league.
Raheem Sterling (No. 7) Left winger, England
Fans have been dissatisfied with Sterling recently. Many feel that the Englishman should have been dropped for Mykhailo Mudryk, but Sterling has been several notches more effective than Mudryk, and it shows with every game Sterling plays and also every game Mudryk plays.
Cole Palmer (No. 20) Center forward, England
Palmer was very good at center forward against Middlesbrough. He may be the one that plays there through AFCON when Jackson is away. His ability to get into goal-scoring positions was impressive. He didn't have the finishing touch in midweek, but he can be expected to score some goals if he gets chances like that against Fulham, and he can.
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