Chelsea are going to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest with a lineup that has been affected by Cole Palmer’s confirmed six-week absence and a lack of defenders.
Enzo Maresca has to deal with a lot of choices because Benoit Badiashile is out until December, and Levi Colwill is out. Reece James is back, but the head coach is banned from the touchline, leaving Willy Caballero to take charge of the game.
A 4-2-3-1 formation could rely on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo as a double pivot. Enzo Fernandez could be pushed up high to give Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho more space to work with behind Joao Pedro.
Robert Sanchez could play in goal, James could play at right back, and Marc Cucurella could start at left back. Because of injuries to other players, Trevoh Chalobah could play center back next to Tosin Adarabioyo. That gives us a predicted XI of Sanchez. James, Chalobah, Tosin, and Cucurella. Lavia, Caicedo. Neto, Fernandez, and Garnacho. Joao Pedro.
The shape puts winning the ball in the middle and sending it up to wide runners first. Fernandez is in charge of putting together attacks while Palmer is out. Morgan Gibbs White between the lines and Chris Wood in the air are two threats from the Forest that make it clear that Chelsea will need to keep their box closed and defend aggressively.
Nottingham Forest’s expected lineup against Chelsea
Ange Postecoglou took over Nottingham Forest and needs a strong team to turn around a bad run in front of a tough home crowd.
He could bring out a lineup with Matz Sels in goal with Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, and Nicolo Savona in front of him. Ibrahim Sangare is expected to hold down the midfield, while Elliott Anderson and Neco Williams handle the running and pressing. Morgan Gibbs White could play alongside Dan Ndoye and Chris Wood in attack.