Frank Lampard has suggested he will make changes to his Chelsea team when the Blues face Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. The west London club enjoyed a winning return to Premier League action against Aston Villa on Sunday and will be looking to continue that momentum against the reigning champions.
Goals from Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic helped Chelsea come from behind to secure all three points at Villa Park.
The victory cements the Blues’ spot in the top four, giving them a five-point gap over Manchester United and Wolves in the race for Champions League qualification.
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But with the games coming thick and fast, Lampard has revealed he is likely to mix up his starting XI in order to keep the squad fresh.
When asked if he had a second team in mind for the upcoming clash with City after the final whistle on Sunday, Lampard said: “Yes, tentatively. I did before this game try and look at it.
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“It is difficult because what happens in this game always affects the next one.
“But you have to plan and look forward so I have got an idea and I will look at how players recover first and foremost.
“It is a big ask because some players who have played 90 minutes today when I didn’t expect them to. Some have been out for a while and how do their bodies recover so I will look at that as well.
“It will be a different type of game, City. It will be a team who want to play possession so a big part of our game will be our pressing.
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“Today, we couldn’t do it. It was more about recoveries and second balls. Against City we will want to be more aggressive in the work we do to win it back. We will look at the attributes of the players and we will see.”
That desire for aggressive pressing could see Tammy Abraham recalled to the starting line up at the expense of the less mobile Giroud, despite the Frenchman’s goal at the weekend.
Likewise, Willian could drop out after a jaded performance against the Villans and Ruben Loftus-Cheek is unlikely to retain his place, having only returned from a long-term injury lay-off recently.
Instead, Mason Mount could push forward into the three-man attack while Pulisic may have done enough to earn a start after his winner last time out.
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Jorginho is available again after suspension and could come in at the base of midfield while Mateo Kovacic is likely to start once again.
N’Golo Kante was not expected to play 90 minutes against Villa, having returned to training later than his team-mates, but will be needed against City.
Reece James could earn a call-up, pushing Cesar Azpilicueta over to left-back with Marcos Alonso dropping to the bench, while Kurt Zouma may come in for Andreas Christensen but Fikayo Tomori has a muscle issue.
Finally, Antonio Rudiger and Kepa Arrizabalaga appear assured of their spots while Callum Hudson-Odoi is still doubtful and it remains to be seen whether Pedro and Willian sign short-term contract extensions allowing them to play.
Chelsea predicted line-up vs Manchester City – Premier League
(4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; James, Rudiger, Zouma, James; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Mount, Pulisic, Abraham
Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Alonso, Loftus-Cheek, Gilmour, Barkley, Pedro, Willian, Giroud