Chelsea are scheduled to play Red Bull Salzburg at the Red Bull Arena in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Blues come into this fixture off the back of a dramatic 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. Graham Potter is still unbeaten since taking over the reins from Thomas Tuchel last month, although his side have played out successive stalemates with Brentford and Manchester United.
Nonetheless, the west Londoners, who sit top of tricky Group E after four games, have everything in their squad to beat Salzburg and book a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Chelsea Team News
Kalidou Koulibaly has emerged as a fresh injury concern for Chelsea ahead of their clash with Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday night as the Senegalese defender missed the game against Man United with knee pain.
Wesley Fofana and Reece James remain out with knee issues, while N’Golo Kante is a long-term absentee after undergoing hamstring surgery.
Predicted Chelsea Lineup vs RB Salzburg (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Kepa Arrizabalaga has repaid Potter’s trust with a series of solid displays in goal in recent weeks. The Spaniard is Chelsea’s new No.1 and deserves to start in the Chelsea lineup against RB Salzburg.
Defence
After lining up with a back three against Man United from the onset, Potter quickly made changes to his side after seeing his side get outplayed in midfield and removed Marc Cucurella for Mateo Kovacic.
With Koulibaly unlikely to make the cut, a back four of Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell could be preferred in front of Kepa against the Austrian club.
Midfield
Mateo Kovacic came on as an early first-half substitute against Man United and made an instant impact by helping the Blues get some control in midfield on Saturday. The Croat is likely to start from the off, partnering Jorginho in the middle of the park in the Chelsea lineup.
The duo’s main responsibility would be to dominate the ball at the centre of the park and manufacture clear-cut chances to win this away game for Chelsea.
Mason Mount has started every single game under Potter, and that norm looks set to continue when the Blues meet Salzburg in Austria. He will aim to pull the strings from the No.10 role in the Chelsea lineup and keep things ticking in midfield for the Blues.
Attack
Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to make an impact against Man United, yet the attacking duo look likely to retain it’s places in the Chelsea lineup.
Aubameyang will spearhead the Chelsea attack, with Sterling and Christian Pulisic bringing pace, creativity and flair in abundance from wide areas.
Hakim Ziyech, Armando Broja and Kai Havertz will be available for selection on the bench as they wait for their opportunities to make an impact in the second half if required.
