Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that neither Edouard Mendy nor Thiago Silva will be available to start this afternoon’s match against Southampton.
It was hoped that Mendy would be able to recover from a thigh injury he picked up on international duty but the 28-year-old needs more time to get back to full fitness, while Thiago has only just returned from international duty after playing for Brazil.
Supporters on Twitter are disappointed that two key players will be missing for the Saints game and they are worried about who will replace them in the starting line up:
No clean sheet then
— Viraj Mandhare (@pepe_chelsea) October 16, 2020
Here we go again…another change in back line ?
— TZL /tee-zil/ – Indications For Use out now! (@TZLreborn) October 16, 2020
Tomori didn't go on loan?
— Jerry? (@Lahustle4) October 16, 2020
Hope Lamps is brave and starts Tomori. He deserves it right now plus him and Zouma were our best CB combo last season. Christensen doesn't deserve to be in the line up based on recent performances.
— DC (@CFCcdC) October 16, 2020
Are we ever going to have a stable back line?
— CoCo? (@Ben_Cash10) October 16, 2020
Just don’t play Christensen. That’s all
— PᎥNkMAN (@SUPERORE1) October 16, 2020
Tomori and Zouma starting then pic.twitter.com/dRfGbz8Jrn
— عَقِيْل (@Aqeel__________) October 16, 2020
So Silva still plays for Brazil at 36 wow
— Bobby (@oshio92) October 16, 2020
Oh Kepa ??♂️
— Nero (@OluwaFemiAH) October 16, 2020
Silva is 36 and needs to be managed for the entire season.. If this team cant beat Soton without Silva then we dont deserve top four
— Your favourite lawyer (@junior_ababio) October 16, 2020
The goalkeeping situation is the biggest concern. Kepa Arrizabalaga was on the bench for the Palace game but his poor recent performances may lead to Lampard picking Willy Caballero instead.
At centre-back, it will be interesting to see who replaces Silva. Andreas Christensen would be the favourite but Fikayo Tomori could also be favoured to partner Kurt Zouma.