Zouma To Start, Silva On The Bench: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Brighton

David Tully

3 years ago

Categories: Chelsea News, Galleries, Match Previews

After a superb win in the FA Cup against Manchester City at the weekend, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will want to sustain that momentum as they seek to sustain their push for a top-four finish.

They face a tricky opponent in Brighton, whose position in the table does not reflect their underlying performances this campaign. Graham Potter’s side have won at Anfield and only narrowly lost at Old Trafford recently.

With Tuchel admitting that talk about the European Super League has been a distraction, it will be interesting to see whether his players are able to keep their focus and secure the three points tonight.

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

GK – Edouard Mendy

The Senegalese international was surprisingly left out of the squad entirely for the City game, but he will almost certainly return to the eleven this evening.

Kepa may have put in a decent performance at the weekend, but he will need to do a lot more to displace Mendy as the number one.

RWB – Reece James

The fullback seems to be gradually cementing his place in the first team under Tuchel, although Callum Hudson-Odoi may still be used in certain matches when opponents sit deep.

Brighton are not one of those teams, though, and they do pose a threat on the counter-attack so James would be the sensible option to go with.

CB – Cesar Azpilicueta

The club captain plays every game for Tuchel mainly due to his consistency, and the fact that he is rarely injured. That is a testament to his fitness considering he is now 31.

Azpilicueta has been superb playing as the right-sided centre-back and there is no one else in the Chelsea squad who is able to provide what he offers in that position.

CB – Kurt Zouma

With Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen both unlikely to be available due to fitness issues, it is expected that the Frenchman will be handed a start in the middle of the back three.

For many, Zouma’s best position is in the centre as it means he can utilise one of his best attributes; his aerial presence.

CB – Antonio Rudiger

The German has been pretty flawless since Tuchel’s arrival in January, and it’s all the more impressive considering how little football he played in the first half of the season.

One positive from that lack of game time, though, is that Rudiger is much fresher than most of his teammates and should finish the campaign strongly.

LWB – Ben Chilwell

The 24-year-old did miss another gilt-edged chance in the first half against Manchester City but Tuchel seems to be won over by the defender’s all-round game.

Neither Marcos Alonso nor Emerson Palmieri are really getting a look-in at the moment, and Chilwell will want to build on his recent performances with another good display against Brighton.

CM – N’Golo Kante

The Frenchman had an effective, if not spectacular, match versus City, and he did intercept the ball around his own box regularly when Chelsea came under pressure in the second half.

Kante is gradually recovering his fitness after the injury he sustained on international duty last month, and with Kovacic still sidelined, he will likely start again tonight.

CM – Jorginho

The Italian was in superb form at the weekend, as he controlled the game in the middle of the park, especially in the first half.

Jorginho had to do more of the dirty work after the interval, but he was more than up to the task, helping Kante to provide a screen in front of the back three.

RW – Hakim Ziyech

It would be harsh to leave Christian Pulisic out again, considering his excellent recent form, but Ziyech deserves to keep his place after putting in a great display against City.

Ziyech used the ball very well, and he could have gotten on the scoresheet more than once. He was, though, composed to slot home the winner.

CF – Timo Werner

Even though the German international isn’t scoring goals, his work rate and overall contribution will be appreciated by Tuchel.

With Brighton not having the quickest backline, Werner could cause a lot of problems with his pace, especially if the Blues manage to catch their opponents on the counter-attack.

LW – Mason Mount

Another 8/10 display from the 22-year-old. He consistently performs well and Tuchel is very happy to keep him in the side, despite regularly rotating other players.

Mount was taken off with 20 minutes remaining at Wembley so there is very little chance he will be rested for the game tonight either.