Football News

News » Premier League news » Chelsea news

Hazard and Rudiger start, Predicted Chelsea lineup (3-4-3) vs Stoke City

Hazard and Rudiger start, Predicted Chelsea lineup (3-4-3) vs Stoke City


Hazard and Rudiger start, Predicted Chelsea lineup (3-4-3) vs Stoke City

Hazard likely to start at Stoke

Premier League champions Chelsea will make the visit to Staffordshire to face Stoke City on Saturday afternoon. Mark Hughes' side have clinched positive results against both Manchester United and Arsenal this season, and the Blues will have to be wary of the Potters' creative force.

Lineup(3-4-3):

Thibaut Courtois has been ever-present in the Premier League, and he will replace Willy Caballero, who took the gloves for the midweek League Cup game against Nottingham Forest.

With David Luiz suspended, Antonio Rudiger looks the most likely to take his position alongside skipper Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta. Conte has stuck with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso in the right wing-back and left wing-back spots, and there is unlikely to be any change for the Stoke game.

Cesc Fabregas appears to hold a minor advantage over Tiemoue Bakayoko for the central midfield spot, and the Spaniard's precise passing could be key to unlocking the Potters' backline. He will be accompanied by N'Golo Kante, who is probably the first name on the teamsheet.

Eden Hazard played the full 90 minutes of the Blues' 5-1 triumph over Forest, and he is likely to earn his first league start on the left wing. With Pedro injured, Willian is a certain starter on the right side of the attack while Alvaro Morata could also get the nod over Michy Batshuayi regardless of his match-winning hat-trick against Forest in midweek.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger; Moses, Alonso; Fabregas, Kante; Willian, Hazard, Morata