How Chelsea could line up vs Everton with Abraham to feature despite injury fears and Rudiger not fit enough to start
CHELSEA bounced back from consecutive Premier League defeats against Aston Villa in midweek and now make the trip to Everton on Saturday. Mason Mount’s winner on Wednesday came after Tammy Abraham opened the lead, but the striker came off injured 10 minutes from full-time. Boss Frank Lampard confirmed the striker is in line to keep […]
CHELSEA bounced back from consecutive Premier League defeats against Aston Villa in midweek and now make the trip to Everton on Saturday.
Mason Mount’s winner on Wednesday came after Tammy Abraham opened the lead, but the striker came off injured 10 minutes from full-time.
Boss Frank Lampard confirmed the striker is in line to keep his place in the starting XI but defender Antonio Rudiger has not been passed fit to come back to the squad.
Lampard said: “Tammy Abraham is good. He hasn’t done much in between games. We will make sure of that in the morning but at the moment we’re good.
“Toni has had a really good week of training. We have had to get him some sort of match fitness which he has gone through this week.
“Tomorrow comes too soon but he’s had a great week and he’s on the verge.”
It means keeper Kepa will have the centre-half pairing of Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori in front of him, with Andreas Christensen set to lose his place in the team.
Lampard dropped deep-lying midfielder Jorginho against Villa but the Italian is in line to return and be paired with Frenchman N’Golo Kante.
Just ahead will be Mount, who netted a stunning volley at Stamford Bridge to secure the points midweek.
The England international will likely operate as a No10 in front of Kante and Jorginho.
Out wide Willian and Christian Pulisic should again occupy the wings with Abraham leading the line.
ROTATION?
Alternatively, Lampard could introduce Mateo Kovacic – a midfielder capable of playing in a defensive pair, or as part of a three.
Lampard had the Croatian lined up with Jorginho and Kante against champions Manchester City, but if Mount is to keep his place, the ex-Real Madrid star could drop back as a defensive midfielder.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has just two league starts this season, is fit to start from the off and could replace Pulisic – who has started the last six league games, scoring five goals.
Lampard has been impressed with Willian’s work on and off the ball so far this term, with the Brazilian becoming a regular in the line up.
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But the winger gave way for Pedro in the 1-0 loss to West Ham, and the Spaniard is another option for the Blues boss.
Olivier Giroud also started that game, but did not take the rare opportunity to put pressure on Abraham.
Belgian Michy Batshuayi replaced Chelsea’s No9 against Villa, and would be the prime stand in if Lampard is to take precaution and rest the England forward.