Ipswichvs.Chelsea

After losing 2-1 at home to Fulham on Boxing Day, there is a quick turnaround for the Blues ahead of their trip to Suffolk, and with no Conference League games until February, the manager could hand an opportunity to some of the players who have starred on the continent.

The most likely candidates are Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku, two players who started in the midweek fixture at Southampton earlier this month, and have also shone in the minor competitions.

Marc Guiu has also been in a rich vein of form with five goals in his last two starts, but he is unlikely to get a chance from the start, along with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has been unfortunate to have Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo ahead of him.

Dewsbury-Hall also missed the Fulham game with a slight knock, and could miss out again along with fellow midfielder Romeo Lavia, whose setback has taken slightly longer to heal than first thought.

Defence remains the area with the most absentees for the Blues, with centre-back pairing Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile both out, meaning Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill are set to continue in the heart of the back four.

Reece James is also missing, meaning Malo Gusto is set to start at right-back again, unless Lavia recovers in time and is preferred, with Caicedo moving to right-back.

One other change could also see Noni Madueke given a chance after he sat out again on Boxing Day, despite showing some excellent glimpses of form throughout the campaign so far.

Everything will once again go through talisman Cole Palmer, and his nonchalant finish against Fulham in his 50th Premier League start for the club saw him take his goal involvements tally to 52.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Joao Felix; Nkunku

Written by

Andrew Delaney