Chelsea will look to capitalise on the momentum gained in the impressive 3-1 win over BATE Borisov in midweek as they travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley tomorrow. The Blues are currently third on the table but failing to grab all three points this weekend could potentially put them at risk of slipping to fifth, especially with Arsenal playing splendidly.
As for Burnley, they will be happy with a point especially after being on the receiving end of a 5-0 battering at the hands of Manchester City last weekend. They are currently 13th in the league table with eight points in nine matches.
Eden Hazard was left out of the side that secured a 3-1 win over BATE in midweek due to a back problem and thus, he remains a doubt in this game. Ethan Ampadu, on the other hand, will also remain on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Defence
Maurizio Sarri is expected to shuffle his entire back-four even though star goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will remain in between the sticks for Chelsea this weekend.
Cesar Azpilicueta will return to the side as the right-back even though Davide Zappacosta was excellent against BATE, notably producing the assist for Ruben-Loftus Cheek’s early opener.
Marcos Alonso will also replace Emerson on the opposite flank. The Spaniard will be looking to produce a strong display this weekend, following a disappointing performance against Manchester United.
In central defence, both Gary Cahill and Andreas Christensen will make way for David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger. Luiz, in particular, leads the team in terms of interceptions and clearances while Rudiger’s dogged defending could be key against a physical Burnley attack.
Midfield
We can also expect some alternations in midfield with Mateo Kovacic being the only player to retain his place at the base of Chelsea’s 4-3-3. The Croatian international is expected to once again start ahead of Ross Barkley, who netted the last minute equalizer against Manchester United.
N’Golo Kante and Jorginho will return in midfield as Chelsea look to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League. The duo has attempted over 50 tackles while mustering 15 interceptions and 18 key passes, making them one of the most effective midfield combinations in the league this season.
Attack
Pedro is lined up as an ideal alternative should Eden Hazard fail to return to full fitness this weekend. He will start as the right winger with Willian occupying the opposite flank. However, the Brazilian will surely face difficulty featuring on the left side and thus, he will be hoping that Hazard will return in time.
The Chelsea attack will be led by Alvaro Morata, who will be looking to end his awful scoring tally in the league this season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
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