Sterling To Start Up Front, Cucurella At Left Back; Jackson Out: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Fulham

Chelsea will be keen to build on their win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup last week when they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage tonight.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino would have taken plenty of positives from the performance and the key now is to find some consistency and put together a run of results in the league.

The Blues have two players out suspended in Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto, which gives Pochettino even more issues in terms of selection, considering 10 others are already out injured.

Press the next page as we predict Chelsea’s starting lineup for the match this evening.

GK – Robert Sanchez

The Spaniard’s passing left a lot to be desired against Brighton, and you do feel that the Spaniard is riding his luck at times.

However, other aspects of Sanchez’s game have improved since the start of the season. His reflexes are sharp, which has led to him making some excellent saves in recent games.

His decision-making when coming for crosses has been good as well, and he does command his box well.

Like the rest of the team, though, there are concerns about Sanchez’s consistency, so fans will be hoping he can put in a good performance against the Cottagers.

RB – Axel Disasi

Captain Reece James is not expected to return to fitness before the international break while, as already mentioned, Gusto is suspended following his red card against Aston Villa.

Marc Cucurella did play well as a makeshift right-back versus Brighton but a subsequent injury sustained by Ben Chilwell may lead Pochettino to moving the Spaniard to the opposite flank.

Disasi has played most of his minutes as a centre-half for Chelsea, but he has been deployed at right-back by both Monaco and France in the past.

Pochettino also used him there following Gusto’s sending-off against Villa so he could take up the position again at Craven Cottage.

CB – Thiago Silva

The Brazilian has come under fire for his recent performances but there is no chance that he will be dropped.

Not only do the Blues lack options in defence at the moment, the injuries sustained by both James and Chilwell mean there are also a lack of leaders on the pitch.

Silva is by far and away the most experienced player that Chelsea have in their squad, so he has to be in the team.

The fact that the 39-year-old was rested for the Carabao Cup against Brighton does indicate he will be recalled tonight.

CB – Levi Colwill

The 20-year-old moved centrally as Silva was rested for the Carabao Cup and he performed well, helping his team keep a clean sheet.

That is no mean feat, considering Brighton have been free-scoring this season, and it suggests that Pochettino should persist with Colwill as a centre-back.

While it can be argued that, with Chilwell out of contention, the defender could be shifted back to left-back, the personnel available would suggest Colwill will stay in the middle of defence.

There is a chance that Pochettino will play Disasi and Silva at centre-half, leaving Cucurella to play right-back, but you would hope the manager will try to keep as many players in their natural positions as possible.

LB – Marc Cucurella

The fullback won nearly all of his one-on-one duels against Brighton and he looked like a man with something to prove.

With Chilwell expected to be sidelined for a while, it should be a straight fight between Cucurella and Ian Maatsen to get game time on the left-hand side of defence.

As Pochettino has selected Maatsen further forward in his outings for the Blues so far, it would indicate that Cucurella will get the nod for the Fulham fixture.

Of course, you cannot rule out the manager persisting with Colwill in the position but, with Chelsea needing to score more goals, the more attack-minded option at fullback would be the better choice.

CM – Moises Caicedo

You do get the feeling the Ecuadorian is not 100% fit at the moment but he is trying to do a job for the team.

The strapping on Caicedo’s knee strongly indicates that the knock he picked up on international duty last month is still troubling him somewhat. Against Brighton, he was poor in possession, but he was sharper off the ball, and he protected the back four well, alongside Lesley Ugochukwu.

Caicedo will need to improve if he is going to get the better of Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, whose physicality and tackling ability make him a formidable holding midfielder.

If Chelsea are to get a win at Craven Cottage, they need to control the midfield, so Caicedo’s role is crucial if that is going to happen.

CM – Conor Gallagher

The 23-year-old was dropped for the first time this season for the win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

Considering that Gallagher has started every league match, though, you would assume he will return to the starting eleven this evening.

It would be harsh on Ugochukwu if the Frenchman is dropped but Chelsea need to score goals, and a more attack-minded player will need to start alongside Caicedo.

With James and Chilwell absent, there is a good chance that Pochettino will hand Gallagher the captain’s armband too.

AM – Enzo Fernandez

There is an argument for playing the Argentinian deeper in midfield, as he has struggled to get on the ball, especially away from home.

Pochettino could consider deploying Fernandez alongside Caicedo, with Gallagher as the most advanced midfielder, but that isn’t something that has been tried so far this season.

The Blues are currently struggling to get the most out of Fernandez’s talents, who hasn’t scored or provided an assist in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old’s only goal contribution came against AFC Wimbledon in the 2nd round of the Carabao Cup back in August.

RW – Cole Palmer

The summer signing was given his first start by Pochettino versus Brighton and he duly delivered with a very good performance.

Palmer linked up with Nicolas Jackson for the only goal of the game, and he was always looking to make things happen when he was in possession.

Due to Jackson’s suspension, there will have to be a shift in the front line, so Palmer may be asked to play off the right wing.

The 21-year-old is comfortable playing the position so the switch from playing centrally shouldn’t affect him too much.

CF – Raheem Sterling

Jackson’s one-match ban means he won’t be available for the Fulham game.

Armando Broja is back fit, and he played the last 5 minutes against Brighton last week, but the Albanian international is not ready to start matches.

Pochettino will either have to pick Deivid Washington, who has not yet made his debut for the first team, or he will have to consider a makeshift forward.

Sterling would be the likeliest option to play through the middle, and you would back him to start at Craven Cottage up front.

LW – Mykhailo Mudryk

The Ukrainian made a bright cameo in the Carabao Cup, and he was also one of the better performers in the defeat to Villa.

For that reason, you would hope that Pochettino keeps faith with Mudryk and gives him another opportunity to play tonight.

The winger’s confidence is improving game by game and, by the sound of things, Pochettino himself has been working very hard with the player on the training ground.

Hopefully, we begin to see the fruits of those efforts on the pitch in upcoming games.