Thiago Silva has been reinstated to Chelsea’s starting lineup for the Premier League match against Manchester United on Saturday.
Given the club’s hectic schedule, the veteran Brazilian was rested for the midweek draw at Brentford, but he will play in the middle of a back three at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has been dealt a blow with Kalidou Koulibaly missing from the squad, presumably due to injury, leaving Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella to make up the rest of the backline.
In total, head coach Graham Potter has made four alterations to his starting lineup, also handing opportunities to Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
As well as Koulibaly, the trio of Conor Gallagher, Kai Havertz, and Armando Borja have dropped out of the first XI.
With Cesar Azpilicueta reverting to right wing-back rather than starting in a central three, only Denis Zakaria – usually a midfielder – is capable of acting as backup for the defense.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Sterling, Aubameyang
Subs: Mendy, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Kovacic, Zakaria, Havertz, Pulisic, Ziyech, Broja
Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Malacia, Fred, Pellistri, Iqbal, McTominay, Elanga, Garnacho
Leave a Reply