Xabi Alonso is expected to make wholesale changes to the Chelsea side that beat Leeds United on Wednesday for when Hull City come to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer has been in fine form for Chelsea recently(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
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When Chelsea's fixtures were announced over the summer, Hull City at home would have been many people's banker three points for the Blues.
Yet, we find ourselves three games into the new Premier League season and the Tigers are defying everyone's expectations. With seven points from a possible nine, Sergej Jakirovic's side are unbeaten in the top-flight - and boast the best defensive record in the league with Hull yet to concede.
Chelsea, though, have the best attacking record in the Premier League. Xabi Alonso's Blues have netted eight in their three league fixtures to date. That does not even include the six Chelsea scored in Wednesday evening's Carabao Cup third round victory over Leeds United.
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It should make for a thrilling encounter when Chelsea host Hull on Saturday afternoon. With that being said, Bobby Vincent and x discuss and debate the line-up Alonso should field this weekend, with an agreement reached over the return of midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Bobby Vincent
I expect Alonso to operate a 3-4-3 formation for the clash with Hull. There will be plenty of changes after Wednesday's experimentation against Leeds. Alonso went with a much-changed side at Stamford Bridge but was forced to call upon his big guns in the second-half.
Mike Penders is likely to drop out of the side in place of Emi Martinez. In front of Martinez, Wesley Fofana could return to the defence alongside Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill.
Pedro Neto has done a fine job at wing-back in recent matches and could start on the right-hand side this weekend. Jorrel Hato is set to come back in on the other side, with the midfield two less obvious.
Pedro Neto celebrates
Pedro Neto celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Leeds United(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
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Alonso admitted he made a mistake by rushing Caicedo back for last month's win over Brighton, where the Ecuadorian limped off late on in west London. He will be cautious to rush him back for Saturday but there could be a scenario where Alonso looks to get an hour out of his star midfielder.
The front three is the front three. You would be amazed if it was anything other than Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro at Stamford Bridge.
Bobby's XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, James, Hato; Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro
Matt Maltby
The experiment didn't exactly work for Alonso against Leeds. He gave several fringe players a chance - and they didn't deliver.
It almost backfired for the Blues boss, until his big-name superstars arrived to ensure the Carabao Cup dream is still alive. Attention now turns back to the Premier League and Alonso will need to call on the big guns again.
The obvious names including JP Morgan (are we using this nickname?). Actually, let's not... You'd expect Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro to come straight back into the starting line-up.
Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer celebrate
Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer celebrate with Danny Welbeck(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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The goalkeeper and defensive choices seem straightforward too, but it's the middle of the park where Alonso has a decision to make. If Caicedo is fit, he has to start. I will give James the nod, too, as he can dictate play alongside his returning teammate.
Pep Chavarria deserves a chance too. Against weaker opposition (no offence Hull...), he deserves a chance to show what he can do. Alonso has such a strong squad now, he might as well use it as often as he can.
Matt's XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, James, Chavarria; Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro