Enzo Maresca will be expecting a response from his Chelsea players in their next game against Wolves in the EFL Cup, and we are predicting him to ring the changes to his side.
The Blues need to return to winning ways again after they suffered an embarrassing defeat at home to Sunderland at the weekend, a game which saw Maresca heavily criticised by Gary Neville.
Concentration temporarily moves away from the Premier League though, and to the Carabao Cup, a competition the Blues haven’t won in more than a decade, despite reaching the final under Mauricio Pochettino.
Facing the side who are bottom of the top flight, Chelsea have been handed a golden chance to progress to the quarter-finals, putting them within three rounds of winning the whole thing.
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Chelsea predicted XI vs Wolves in EFL Cup
The Chelsea Chronicle have named their predicted XI for the game against Wolves, where we are expecting mass changes and opportunities for players to stake their claim for more regular minutes.
Filip Jorgensen has so far only appeared in this competition this season, and that run will continue as he starts for the second time in the campaign.
Malo Gusto will return to right-back in the place of the rested Reece James. He will need to be careful with the referee though, after Gusto was previously sent off by Jarred Gillett.
The only player to keep his place in the side will be Trevoh Chalobah. This is despite criticism of his part in Sunderland’s winning goal at the weekend.
He will be partnered by Tosin Adarabioyo, with Maresca putting faith in a pairing of Josh Acheampong and Wesley Fofana to start against Tottenham at the weekend.
Jorrel Hato will come in for a rare start at left-back, looking to continue to show he is a ready replacement for Marc Cucurella when required.
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It will be all change in the middle of the park. Andrey Santos will be the first new name to appear as the main options are given a well-earned rest.
He will be joined in there by Romeo Lavia. Let’s see if the Belgian is trusted yet to complete his first 90 minutes as a Chelsea player.
Ahead of those two, Facundo Buonanotte will start and look to provide the creativity. The Argentine’s only goal for the Blues came in this competition against Lincoln.
Estevao Willian will come in to start on the right, and is likely to be looked to as the go-to man when Chelsea are on the attack.
On the other side, Jamie Gittens will look to build on his player of the match display against Ajax with another impressive cup performance.
Up front, Tyrique George will start before his opportunities for the side becoming even sparser, as the Blues prepare for the return of Liam Delap from injury.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Wolves