90min

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Man City - Premier League

By Jamie Spencer

Chelsea are hoping to stay top of the Premier League
Chelsea are hoping to stay top of the Premier League / Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Chelsea are joint top of the Premier League after five rounds of fixtures and now prepare to host reigning champions Manchester City in the biggest game of the season so far.

The Blues have taken close to maximum points to this point, settling for a draw against Liverpool at Anfield last month, and come into this one off the back of a Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa on penalties.

Thomas Tuchel has already delivered trophies for Chelsea in less than a year in charge, but fans will be hoping that a first serious Premier League title challenge since 2017 is now brewing.

Here’s a look at the starting XI the boss could pick…

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Antonio Rudiger remains vital despite his stalled contract talks
Antonio Rudiger remains vital despite his stalled contract talks / Visionhaus/Getty Images

Edouard Mendy (GK): Chelsea medical staff have been successful in their battle to get the goalkeeper fit after missing the last two games.

Andreas Christensen (CB): Rested altogether against Villa but likely to return here, with Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr dropping out.

Thiago Silva (CB): Will return to the starting lineup as Chelsea revert to a back three. Scored against Tottenham last weekend.

Antonio Rudiger (CB): His future hangs in the balance amid stalled contract talks, but the German international remains crucial to Tuchel’s plans

2. Midfielders

Jorginho
Jorginho will be a key player for this one / Visionhaus/Getty Images

Cesar Azpilicueta (RWB): Plenty of Chelsea supporters will want to see Reece James keep his place from the Carabao Cup in midweek, but the captain is likely to return.

Jorginho (CM): Another who was rested in midweek but will be recalled for this one. Has started four of Chelsea’s five Premier League games so far and came on at half-time in the other.

Mateo Kovacic (CM): May still get the nod over N’Golo Kante, who got another 45 minutes under his belt midweek after a difficult start to the season.

Marcos Alonso (LWB): The Spaniard will be under increased scrutiny from now on after expressing his decision to no longer take the knee before kick off.

3. Forwards

Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku has been among the goals this season / James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Kai Havertz (RF): Scored the winner against City in the Champions League final in May but has only one goal to his name so far this season. Has been a regular starter up to now.

Romelu Lukaku (ST): Will be recalled to the starting lineup after coming on as a substitute in midweek. Has scored four goals in six appearances since his summer return.

Hakim Ziyech (LF): Mason Mount's injury absence could see the Morocco international keep his place from midweek for only a second Premier League start of the season so far.

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