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How Chelsea could line up against Everton

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 March 2023, 10:08
Chelsea manager Graham Potter may be boosted by an influx of returning players for Saturday evening's Premier League showdown with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Neither Armando Broja nor Thiago Silva will be ready for the visit of the Toffees, but Wesley Fofana has seemingly avoided anything serious following a scare in last weekend's win over Leicester City.

Furthermore, all of Reece James, Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount and perhaps even N'Golo Kante could apply for places in the stacked squad, but the latter will certainly not start.

In fact, only James may be considered for a recall to the first XI out of Chelsea's hopefuls, with Kepa Arrizabalaga keeping Mendy at bay in between the sticks as the Senegal shot-stopper recovers from a broken finger.

Marc Cucurella's recent redemption arc has forced Benoit Badiashile to take a backseat role, and the Spaniard can feel confident of starting alongside Kalidou Koulibaly and Fofana once more.

James's possible return from illness could force Ruben Loftus-Cheek out of the XI, as Ben Chilwell continues on the left following a well-taken goal at his former home last weekend.

Enzo Fernandez and Mateo Kovacic are set to retain their places in the middle, and the same can be said for Mykhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix up front, despite the latter's half-time withdrawal at the King Power.

Kai Havertz has now netted in back-to-back contests for Chelsea, and the German could score in three successive games for just the second time in Chelsea blue this weekend.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella; James, Kovacic, Fernandez, Chilwell; Mudryk, Havertz, Felix

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