Three possible lineups for Chelsea vs Brighton, given Frank Lampard's major Silva and Kante conundrum.
News about Chelsea: With tougher tests ahead, the Blues have many choices going into their match against Brighton.
Graham Potter and Frank Lampard have both had comparable early experiences at Chelsea. His first two games included formation changes, individual mistakes, lackluster attacking, and a string of dismal performances.
His second stint at the club hasn't exactly gotten off to the best of starts, and facing Brighton on Saturday will be another difficult challenge. Although their current record has them among relegation hopefuls, the Blues' cushion is too great for them to be taken seriously in that scenario. As a result, they have little to play for in the league.
There may only be one more competitive match for Chelsea this season on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge against Real Madrid. There may only be seven more league games after that. Any improbable Champions League advancement would just prolong their miserable campaign.
Lampard must first go past the Seagulls in order to get ready for that game. Lampard has a lot of questions to address while striking a balance between looking ahead to Madrid and pleasing the SW6 supporters.
In order to lead Chelsea through the tie on Tuesday, he needs to develop a new defensive structure because Kalidou Koulibaly and Ben Chilwell are out for the return leg. Any indication of scoring a goal would be an extra bonus. Since December 27, Chelsea has not recorded two victories in a row in the league.
They must make sure that they are in great shape by midweek and that they are also in a position to excite the crowd on Saturday. Here is how they can accomplish it.
heavy rotation
By stating: "Tomorrow [Saturday] will be an opportunity for some players who did not play in the Champions League, possibly did not play at the weekend, to come in because it's a game where we absolutely need freshness and energy as well," Lampard implied that his team would be altered from the one that lost 2-0 at Santiago Bernabeau. So they should seize every chance.
This can need rearranging the pitch. Reece James, who appears to be out of sorts, would benefit from a break before meeting Vinicius Jr., and Wesley Fofana was as exhausted as he has ever been following an injury. They could be replaced by Ruben-Loftus Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah.
After being rushed back for the game, Thiago Silva is probably in need of some rest as well. Benoit Badiashile is the obvious choice for him, Marc Cucurella can fill in at center-back even if he might be needed at wing-back on Tuesday, and Lewis Hall might make his belated return to the team.
Mason Mount, an in-midfielder who hasn't started a game since February 3, might re-enter the lineup alongside Denis Zakaria to bring presence and vigor. N'Golo Kante can also wait until the middle of the week. In the front, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke are both newcomers, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has returned for an almost full recovery.
Mendy; Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Hall; Zakaria, Mount; Mudryk, Madueke, and Aubameyang make up the Chelsea XI.
Madrid defeats
Although it increases the danger of injury, Lampard might potentially put familiarity first and select a team that he anticipates playing Madrid. As a result, Enzo Fernandez would continue to play in the middle of the field alongside James, Silva, and Kante from the outset. In other places, Joao Felix and Kai Havertz have previously worked well together without an end result and may reappear as the preferred front two.
The defense continues to be a problem because Cucurella will likely be required to fill in for Chilwell at the wing-back position in the middle of the week. For the time being, Badiashile is able to cover it, but the European tie cannot.
Kepa, James, Fofana, Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic, Felix, and Havertz make up Chelsea's starting lineup.
Formal modification
Does Lampard dare to consider the back four once more? Although it failed at Wolves, it might succeed against Brighton and Madrid depending on the player's availability.
Cucurella is the primary left-back, but James would stay in even though Fofana and Badiashile are on the field. Chilwell can still play domestically while being suspended from the Champions League. Fans will be eager to see Fernandez and Kante pivot as Mount moves farther forward.
In a 4-3-3, Mudryk and Madueke may flank Havertz as the center of attention.
Kepa, James, Fofana, Badiashile, Cucurella, Fernandez, Kante, Mount, Mudryk, Madueke, and Havertz make up Chelsea's starting lineup.
