Chelsea team news: How Blues could line up against Burnley with Frank Lampard set to make changes
Having sealed their progress to the FA Cup fourth round, it’s back to the weekly grind of the Premier League for Chelsea on Saturday.
Frank Lampard’s men beat Championship side Nottingham Forest 2-0 last weekend, a rare home victory in recent weeks.
The manager rested a number of Chelsea’s regular first-team players including Tammy Abraham, Antonio Rudiger, N’Golo Kante and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
And ahead of their Premier League clash at home to Burnley on Saturday, Lampard is set to make more changes to the Chelsea side who want to strengthen their grip on their place in the top four.
- You can listen to full commentary of Chelsea vs Burnley LIVE on talkSPORT 2, kick-off 3pm.
LIVE on talkSPORT
Check out all the LIVE commentaries coming up on talkSPORT, below…
- Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Brentford vs QPR (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Chelsea vs Burnley (Saturday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Tottenham vs Liverpool (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Cardiff vs Swansea (Sunday, 12pm) – talkSPORT 2
Kepa is set to return in goal as should defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Rudiger. Marcos Alonso will not play in this match as he is nursing a gluteal injury.
Christian Pulisic, who scored a perfect hat-trick when the two sides met in the reverse fixture this season, is out for a few weeks with an abductor injury.
This could open the door for Callum Hudson-Odoi, who scored against Forest.
Ross Barkley, who scored the other in the FA Cup tie, may play but Lampard has the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount to call upon too.
Meanwhile, Abraham is set to lead the line in place of Michy Batshuayi, who started against Forest.
Olivier Giroud looks set to leave Stamford Bridge in January and is unlikely to play any part against the Clarets.
talkSPORT.com has had a go at predicting how Chelsea will line up against Burnley.
A more familiar Chelsea team should be on show for fans as they look to build on their five-point cushion on fourth place.
We’ve gone for Azpilicueta at left-back as Lampard confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Alonso isn’t available. Reece James should therefore start at right-back.
In midfield, Jorginho will be orchestrating things while Kante should do his usual thing of winning the ball off the opposition and giving it to the more creative players.
We’ve gone for Mason Mount in midfield ahead of Barkley as the latter is still recovering from a foot injury, while a more attacking player than Kovacic could be the plan of action against a Burnley side who could get many men behind the ball.
Up front we should see Abraham while Pulisic’s absence gives Hudson-Odoi a huge chance to work his way back in the first-team.
Willian has been consistent all season so is expected to start.
Saturday is GameDay on talkSPORT as we bring you THREE live Premier League commentaries, including Chelsea vs Burnley at 3pm
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