Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho will return to the Chelsea starting lineup against Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Chelsea will aim to get three points closer to Liverpool when they lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday evening. Enzo Maresca does not have many pressing issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Mykhailo Mudryk is the latest absentee due to illness. The Ukrainian international has joined Reece James, Wesley Fofana, and Omari Kellyman on the sidelines, with the trio recovering from their hamstring injuries.
Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Maresca provided fitness updates on Reece James, Wesley Fofana, and Mykhailo Mudryk. The Italian tactician also confirmed a place in the starting lineup for a player.
The Chelsea manager said, “They are both slowly getting better but as we said recently, it is going to be weeks for them. They are still far [from a return to action]. Otherwise, the only one who is still ill is Misha Mudryk. The rest of the squad is okay.”
Maresca heaped praise on Enzo Fernandez for his recent performances, saying, “Enzo is improving a lot, especially in terms of understanding the game and position. Now he is in the right position, arriving in the box, always there. This is what we need from the attacking players. For sure he can do things better, not only Enzo but the whole squad, but he is in the right way.”
Meanwhile, Maresca confirmed Robert Sanchez would start against Tottenham, even though Filip Jorgensen took his place between the sticks earlier this week against Southampton. Chelsea will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of the Spanish international, with the backline featuring Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo should continue to pair up in the double pivot, with Romeo Lavia missing out. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho returning to the starting lineup as the wide attackers. Finally, Nicolas Jackson will replace Christopher Nkunku as the away side’s central striker.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson