Chelsea fans in the Transfer Tavern are hopeful they’re on the up following a victory against Spurs last weekend, but they’re aware further challenges await.
The jury still remains out on the defending Premier League champions, largely because their squad still lacks significant depth in key areas, but the timely victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s side has helped to elevate the pressure.
That could all come back to haunt Antonio Conte though if the Blues endure a negative result against Ronald Koeman’s Everton this weekend and things certainly won’t be easy, as the Dutch boss has impressively bolstered his side this summer.
Chelsea will need to be on top of their game, which they weren’t in the opening weekend defeat to Burnley, and need to show that game was a minor blip rather than an indication of the underlying issues that remain at Stamford Bridge.
With Everton boasting a lot of talent, Chelsea need to assemble a strong starting line-up and this XI is certainly more than capable of doing the job.
Hit the navigation buttons below to advance through pages and see the XI Conte must select this weekend!
GK: Thibaut Courtois
The goalkeeping position at Stamford Bridge selects itself these days and, barring a catastrophe, Thibaut Courtois will be between the posts once again this weekend. On his part, he’ll certainly be hoping to keep a clean sheet.
Chelsea are yet to stop their opponents from scoring this season and haven’t kept a clean-sheet since their narrow victory against West Brom in May that sealed their Premier League title. It shows there’s certainly room for improvement and Courtois will be looking to provide that.
CB: David Luiz
The Brazilian defender was forced to deputise in midfield last week due to Chelsea’s vast absentees but he shouldn’t have the same problem this weekend and should return to the back line. Last year, Luiz was a huge part of the Blues’ success and he needs to get used to a new defensive line.
Alongside a new team-mate, Luiz and company need to be firing on all cylinders as soon as possible. Any issues that remain need to be solved immediately, especially before the Champions League returns next month, so expect a solid display.
CB: Antonio Rudiger
The new member to Chelsea’s back-line, the German has to prove his worth in the Premier League. The Blues had one of the best defences in the division last season, so Rudiger has high comparisons he will be marked against, and a solid performance against Everton is needed.
Rudiger has the experience that Chelsea need at the back but will be aware that there’s alternative options for his position and a loss of form could see the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta or Andreas Christensen handed more opportunities in a central role.
CB: Gary Cahill
Having missed the victory over Spurs through suspension, Gary Cahill will have a lot to prove when he wears the armband once again against Everton following his dismissal on the opening weekend’s defeat to Burnley.
Everton’s attacking power will certainly keep him on his toes and an encounter with England team-mate Wayne Rooney is certainly something to keep an eye on, especially as the former Manchester United captain has impressed since returning to Goodison Park.
RWB: Cesar Azpilicueta
A star performer in a central position last season, and playing on the left in seasons prior, it’s something’s difficult to remember that Cesar Azpilicueta’s natural position is on the right-side. However, you can expect to see him fit this role more often this term.
The signing of Rudiger means Azpilicueta’s presence centrally is not required and the Spaniard will have personal ambitions of impressing in this role, as he looks to establish himself in the national side ahead of the World Cup next summer.
CM: N’Golo Kante
Chelsea’s midfield enforcer has had a relatively slow start to the season by his standards but the Frenchman is the sort of player who will be crucial in the clash with Everton as he’ll look to restrict the opportunities that fall to the Toffees’ attack.
Going toe-to-toe with Everton’s central midfielders, Kante will be expected to emerge victorious from the battle in the middle of the park and there’s certainly no room for mistakes this weekend. He has the experience to shine though, which will be vital alongside a new partner.
CM: Tiemoue Bakayoko
Having returned from injury to make his debut in the victory over Spurs at Wembley, Tiemoue Bakayoko is expected to become a mainstay in Chelsea’s midfield alongside compatriot N’Golo Kante and the tie with Everton is a chance for him to make his mark.
Bakayoko’s return has come at a crucial time for Chelsea and his position in the side will be vital in the months ahead, particularly when Champions League football returns next month, but he’ll need to adapt to the challenges of the Premier League quickly.
LWB: Marcos Alonso
The hero at Wembley after scoring both goals, including a fantastic free-kick, Marcos Alonso’s stunning performance comes at a time when transfer speculation has heavily linked Chelsea with a new recruit in this position- with Juventus’ Alex Sandro reportedly a top-target.
Alonso has shown he’s more than capable of remaining as Chelsea’s starring man on the left side of defence though and another solid performance against Everton this weekend will go a long way towards convincing Antonio Conte that recruits in this area are unnecessary.
RW: Willian
Just as Marcos Alonso may fear for his place in the line-up, Brazilian starlet Willian needs to improve his performances as there have been suggestions in recent weeks that he lacks the trust of Antonio Conte. This, alongside reports linking the Blues with a new winger, is bad news for the South American.
Willian was a rare bright spark in Chelsea’s woeful Premier League defence two seasons ago but didn’t quite establish himself as a star in the title winning campaign last term. He now needs to prove his performances two-years ago were not a mere purple patch and must show consistent improvements.
LW: Eden Hazard
Returning to Chelsea action last weekend in a clash with QPR behind closed doors, Eden Hazard didn’t quite make it into action against Spurs but Bakayoko, who also played against QPR, did- and that suggests the Belgian’s return could be imminent.
It’s unlikely Hazard would play the full ninety minutes but a starting position would provide Chelsea with a huge boost in their quest to get a positive result from the Everton attack, particularly if the Belgian ace links-up well with his new attacking partner.
ST: Alvaro Morata
A scorer off the bench on the opening weekend, Alvaro Morata struggled to get into the game against Spurs as Chelsea adopted a more defensive approach due to their wealth of absentees. With key-players returning this week though, the Spaniard could be a huge asset.
Morata has already shown flashes of brilliance and will now be looking to prove he’s capable of being a leading man in the Premier League, as the Blues will expect him to battle with the likes of Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku at the top of the scoring charts.
