Giroud And Havertz In, Abraham And Kovacic Out: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Leeds

David Tully

3 years ago

Categories: Chelsea News, Galleries, Match Previews

Tags: Chelsea, Leeds United, olivier giroud

After fielding a much-changed team against Sevilla on Wednesday night, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will be able to select a well-rested team, for the most part, when they face Leeds tomorrow.

That extra energy will be needed as Marcelo Bielsa’s side press to the extremes and their unconventional man to man marking across the pitch will make them difficult opponents to contend with.

However, if Chelsea do have any pretensions of winning the title this season, these are the games where they need to tough it out and get the three points. So, who will start for the Blues tomorrow?

Press the next page as we predict Chelsea’s starting eleven for the game.

GK – Edouard Mendy

What else is left to say about the 28-year-old? He continues to rack up clean sheets even when the personnel in defence changes ahead of him.

Mendy will, of course, have busier days than he did versus Sevilla during the week but, once again, he did everything asked of him when called upon.

RB – Reece James

Captain Cesar Azpilicueta was impressive on Wednesday but, with James having now started eight of the ten Premier League games so far this season, it’s clear who Lampard now favours as his first choice.

The 20-year-old’s greater threat in the attacking third of the pitch is one of the big reasons why he is given the nod ahead of his more experienced teammate.

CB – Thiago Silva

Rested once more for the Champions League, the Brazilian should be ready to come back into the starting eleven to face Leeds this weekend.

Silva will be coming up against a striker in Patrick Bamford who does cause defences problems but you would expect the experience of the 36-year-old to win out.

CB – Kurt Zouma

Both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger put in solid performances against Sevilla but Zouma is now well established as Silva’s centre-back partner.

Hopefully, though, the performances of the other centre-backs will keep him on his toes to ensure we don’t see any lapses of concentration against a Leeds side, who will punish mistakes on the counter-attack.

LB – Ben Chilwell

Emerson did put in a solid performance on Wednesday but there is no doubt who is the number one left-back in Lampard’s mind.

Chilwell has been very consistent both defensively and in attacking positions in recent weeks, and we will likely see him marauding down the left-hand side at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

CM – N’Golo Kante

Lampard has been vocal about managing the Frenchman’s fitness levels so it wasn’t a surprise when he was named on the bench for the Sevilla game, especially with the Leeds fixture coming up only a few days later.

Kante is undoubtedly still one of the first names on the teamsheet, and he is very much ahead of the likes of Jorginho and Billy Gilmour in the pecking order.

CM – Mason Mount

The 21-year-old looks much more comfortable in central positions and after being omitted from the starting eleven on Wednesday, it suggests he’ll return to the lineup tomorrow.

However, if Kai Havertz is to come back into the team, either Mount or Kovacic will have to make way, and after the Croatian started against Sevilla, we believe it will be him that will miss out.

AM – Kai Havertz

The German made his first start since October midweek and he looked pretty sharp, having set up Olivier Giroud for his first goal with an excellent run and pass.

Havertz does need to show more in the Premier League and you would expect that Lampard will give him another opportunity to impress against Leeds after a confidence-boosting performance on Wednesday night.

RW – Hakim Ziyech

The Moroccan was very quiet in the 0-0 draw versus Tottenham last weekend and it does appear we will have to take the rough with the smooth in terms of his performance levels.

Ziyech’s creativity is needed, though, and you’d expect him to get a starting spot ahead of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic this weekend.

CF – Olivier Giroud

Will Lampard dare to leave the Frenchman out after scoring four goals against Sevilla? It’s a great problem to have, with Tammy Abraham also in decent form, but the veteran forward simply has to play.

Giroud could not have done anymore to earn a recall and if he doesn’t start tomorrow evening, you’d expect his days at Chelsea are numbered.

LW – Timo Werner

The German was one of the livelier performances in the draw against Spurs, having a goal (rightly) ruled out for offside, and he is expected to be recalled after being rested midweek.

Christian Pulisic didn’t do enough versus Sevilla to force his way back into the starting line up and Werner’s goal threat would certainly make him a better option to face a team like Leeds, who will give you plenty of chances to score.