London Football News

Pulisic and Emerson back in – expected Chelsea line-up against Sevilla

Chelsea’s fringe players will get the chance to force their way into manager Frank Lampard’s thinking when they face Sevilla on Wednesday.

With qualification already assured from Champions League Group E two games before the end of the league stages, Lampard has promised to rest many of his favoured stars.


The dual benefit will see Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, Jorginho, Cesar Aspilicueta, Billy Gilmour and several others all likely to get game time to prove their worth.

Lampard is eager to continue to build the momentum from a 14-game unbeaten run, excluding the League Cup penalty shootout defeat against Spurs.

But he has faith in his squad and is confident the team he selects will have enough quality – as well as a strong desire – to ensure Chelsea top their group.

Kepa could be given the chance in goal while Emerson and Marcos Alonso are vying to start at left-back. Antonio Rudiger looks certain to play, while Fikayo Tomori could make just his third start of the season but faces competition from Andreas Christensen.

Jorginho will come into the midfield and Billy Gilmour and Christian Pulisic will both feature at some point, but although Pulisic seems an obvious starter after coming on as a substitute against Tottenham, he may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Kai Havertz is another likely starter, but with Lampard knowing there is a still a tough game to win, he may well keep Mason Mount or Mateo Kovacic in the side knowing it may be too much to leave out all of his first-choice midfield.

Olivier Giroud, the late matchwinner against Rennes should start up front, with Timo Werner getting a well-earned rest.

The bench will be brimming with quality, giving Lamaprd plenty of scope to change things if the need arises.

Expected Chelsea starting line-up:
Kepa
Azpilicueta
Emerson
Rudiger
Christensen
Jorginho
Havertz
Mount
Hudson-Odoi
Pulisic
Giroud




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