Kepa, Saul And Barkley To Start, Christensen And Ziyech On The Bench: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Take On Brentford

David Tully

2 years ago

Categories: Chelsea News, Galleries, Match Previews

Tags: Brentford, Chelsea, Kepa, Saul Niguez

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is down to the bare bones due to the number of players sidelined with the virus, and it is still not certain whether the match against Brentford in the Carabao Cup tomorrow will take place.

As things stand, it will, but the Blues will find it hard to name an eleven, with the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Hakim Ziyech having also picked up injuries.

Andreas Christensen could be fit enough to make the squad, while Ziyech may be available with his calf strain not thought to be too serious, but Chelsea are stretched to the very limit.

Press the next page as we name our starting lineup for the trip to the Brentford Community Stadium.

GK – Kepa Arrizabalaga

The Spaniard is always selected for domestic cup games so this one should be no different; health and fitness permitting of course.

Kepa actually performed very well in his last match against Zenit St Petersburg and he may need to make a few more sharp saves tomorrow evening.

RWB – Reece James

No rest of the wicked, with the 21-year-old expected to start every match during the festive period, unless Tuchel has enough centre-backs to move Azpilicueta to wingback.

James grew into the match against Wolves, being in a one-on-one duel with Marcal for most of the game, and he may be in for a similar battle with Brentford’s Rico Henry.

CB – Cesar Azpilicueta

The captain can always be relied upon but he will likely be tested coming against a pacey Bryan Mbuemo and the strength of Ivan Toney (if he is available).

Azpilicueta is not getting any younger, and his body could be put through the wringer over the next week or so, with matches coming thick and fast.

CB – Antonio Rudiger

The German has almost exclusively been played as a left-sided centre-back under Tuchel but he may have to be moved more centrally tomorrow night.

As mentioned before, Christensen is unlikely to be fit to play the full 90 minutes, while Thiago Silva needs a rest so Rudiger could have to switch positions.

CB – Malang Sarr

The Frenchman was poor the last time he played against Zenit, but he did feature versus Brentford in the corresponding league fixture earlier this season and he performed well, for the most part.

Sarr has played every round in the Carabao Cup so far, and you would expect that the defender will be recalled to the starting lineup for this game.

LWB – Marcos Alonso

The Spaniard looked very poor defensively at Molineux, and Wolves could have scored on a couple of occasions when the wingback lost his concentration.

Alonso will feel though that he should be able to get the better of Mads Roerslev Rasmussen, who isn’t that experienced at the highest level.

CM – Saul Niguez

The Spaniard has toiled since arriving on loan from Atletico Madrid but Tuchel was quick to praise the midfielder after he impressed against Wolves.

Niguez only played 45 minutes at the weekend so you would expect him to start in the middle of the park versus Brentford.

CM – Mateo Kovacic

The Croatian got 25 minutes under his belt on Sunday so, hopefully, he will have the energy (following injury and illness) to start tomorrow.

Chelsea have missed Kovacic’s dynamism in midfield over the past few weeks and, if he plays, he may help improve the side’s attacking threat.

RW – Ross Barkley

Barkley was an unused substitute at the weekend so, even though he was very disappointing in his last cameo versus Everton, he could play against Brentford.

The 28-year-old can look impressive when given license on the ball, but he often flatters to deceive. Fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that he turns up and performs in the Carabao Cup.

CF – Kai Havertz

The German does not have the virus but he was still sidelined with an illness so he is unlikely to be 100% tomorrow. Even so, he may be forced into action.

Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi are unavailable and, with Ziyech not expected to start, Havertz seems the obvious choice to play.

LW – Christian Pulisic

The American improved as the match wore on against Wolves but, if Havertz is fit, he may be moved into a more familiar position out wide versus Brentford.

Pulisic has had a difficult season due to fitness problems but, ironically, he is one of the few senior players who is currently available to Tuchel.