Thiago Silva And James To Start, Rudiger And Azpilicueta Out: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Burnley

Thiago Silva And James To Start, Rudiger And Azpilicueta Out: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Burnley

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will be delighted by the improved defensive displays in recent weeks, and he would have been very happy to see the likes of Hakim Ziyech performing so well in the 4-0 win over Krasnodar on Wednesday night.

They will face a Burnley team this weekend which will present a very different test. The Clarets’ direct style of play will be a good measure to see if the Blues’ newly found defensive solidity is here to stay.

After back to back clean sheets, Edouard Mendy has firmly cemented himself as Lampard’s number one in goal so the Senegalese international is a guaranteed starter, especially with Kepa Arrizabalaga struggling with a shoulder problem.

Reece James is expected to return at right-back after being replaced by club captain Cesar Azpilicueta for the Krasnodar win. Thiago Silva will likely come in for Antonio Rudiger after the Brazilian was rested midweek. Kurt Zouma and Ben Chilwell will make up the rest of the back four.

In midfield, N’Golo Kante may be favoured ahead of Jorginho with Mateo Kovacic keeping his place and Kai Havertz playing in the most advanced role. Christian Pulisic could replace Callum Hudson-Odoi on the left-hand side of the front three, with Timo Werner and Ziyech making up the rest of the forward line.

Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Burnley:

Mendy, James, Thiago Silva, Zouma, Chilwell, Kante, Havertz, Kovacic, Ziyech, Werner, Pulisic

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.