Chelsea picked up a win midweek away at Huddersfield Town, much to our Blues fans’ delight here in the Transfer Tavern.

After the loss to West Ham last weekend, Antonio Conte blamed the defeat on tiredness after a tough Champions League match, something he’s done a lot this season. Although the Italian hasn’t rotated his team too much this season, he faced another midweek match this week, but a little sprinkle of freshness seemed to do the trick in the 3-1 win.

Chelsea currently sit in third, three points behind United in second and 14 points adrift of runaway leaders, Man City. It seems already this season that the majority of the clubs are battling to secure a Champions League spot, and with Liverpool and Arsenal both dropping points midweek, they now have a little gap opening up.

To keep that run going, our landlord believes he needs to keep the squad fresh with a little more rotation ahead of the busy festive schedule and drop these two players…

Alvaro Morata

Morata seemed to be rushed back from his recent injury and it looks like it’s finally caught up with him. Having been rested midweek, Conte should look to rest the Spaniard once again this week in order to give the striker a fighting chance to compete over the busy Christmas period.

Undoubtedly one of the best strikers in Europe, the Spaniard just needs a rest.

Gary Cahill

Chelsea’s captain hasn’t had the best of seasons so far, and the England international seems to be suffering from his own fatigue.

A home match against a struggling Southampton side could see another defender given the chance to grab some first-team minutes and let Cahill recharge his batteries, for what is shaping up to be a tough second half of the season.