A place in the FA Cup fifth round is up for grabs when Chelsea play host to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
The Blues enjoyed some positive momentum before the recent mid-season break, with Thomas Tuchel’s side beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. Prior to the league win over Spurs, they also booked a spot in the EFL Cup final by beating the north London side over two legs of the semi-finals.
While the Pensioners will head into this FA Cup fixture with Plymouth as overwhelming favourites, Tuchel will be wary of the League One side.
Chelsea Team News
Reece James is back on the grass as he steps up his rehabilitation after sustaining a thigh injury in the 1-1 draw against Brighton in December. Andreas Christensen tested positive for Covid-19 before the international break but could be back for the home game against Plymouth.
Meanwhile, Edouard Mendy is away with the Senegal national team for the African Cup of Nations.
Predicted Chelsea Lineup vs Plymouth (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Marcus Bettinelli could come in goal on Saturday, just like he did in the FA Cup third-round win over Chesterfield last month. With Mendy away at the AFCON and Kepa promoted as the first-choice, Bettinelli will get another chance to impress the manager.
Defence
Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to start at right-back in the Chelsea lineup against Plymouth. Young Lewis Hall could get the nod ahead of Marcos Alonso at left-back, with Malang Sarr pairing up with Trevoh Chalobah in central defence. The much-changed Chelsea back four will have to be on their toes to avoid any slipups during a game where they will be expected to boss possession.
Midfield
Tuchel is also likely to ring some changes in midfield from the Tottenham game. Saul Niguez could be handed a rare start in a deeper role in the Chelsea lineup, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kai Havertz linking play from advanced positions. The Blues’ midfield trio is certain to dominate possession but what exactly they do with the ball remains to be seen.
Attack
Hakim Ziyech arguably produced his best performance in a Chelsea shirt against Tottenham, which should guarantee him a place in Tuchel’s starting XI for the upcoming cup game. Christian Pulisic hasn’t been able to grab the opportunities that came his way earlier this season, yet, he might start on the left flank at the weekend.
Timo Werner has struggled to break into the side after returning from injury. However, Tuchel could opt for the German to lead the Chelsea lineup against the League One side. A goal or two will go a long way in lifting Werner’s spirits at a time when Romelu Lukaku has also been struggling.