Predicted 4-3-3 Chelsea XI to face Derby County in the Carabao Cup
Chelsea stretched their unbeaten run to ten games in the Premier League with an emphatic 4-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.
The Blues beat Liverpool 2-1 in the third round of the Carabao Cup and will be the outright favourites to progress to the quarterfinals when they face Derby County on Wednesday.
The fixture will also mark Frank Lampard’s return to the Stamford Bridge as a manager after the Rams overcame the challenge of Manchester United in the third round.
Derby currently sit 6th in the Championship standings, just four points behind table-toppers Sheffield United.
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Pedro had to be subbed off in the game against Burnley due to a minor illness and is doubtful to feature on Wednesday. Eden Hazard is yet to recover fully from his lower back injury, although he might have been rested for the Carabao Cup tie anyways.
Ethan Ampadu is set to be sidelined for another couple of weeks as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Maurizio Sarri will be expected to make quite a few changes to the team that beat Burnley in the Premier League as they have another important fixture coming up against Crystal Palace.
Formation: 4-3-3
Manager: Maurizio Sarri
Predicted XI
Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK)
The Spaniard has been in incredible form in the Premier League since his arrival in summer and Sarri should not consider having him on the bench for this one.
Davide Zappacosta (RB)
The Italian put in a very tidy performance at the back and looked threatening with his accurate crosses in the Europa Leauge.
Gary Cahill (CB)
The veteran has found regular minutes hard to come by in the Premier League and he should start in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Andreas Christensen (CB)
Wasn’t at his best in the Europa League game as he allowed the opposition to find the net with a header but Sarri should hand him another start.
Emerson Palmieri (LB)
He has been a regular starter in the Europa League and the Carabao Cup and will be expected to replace Marcos Alonso in the line-up.
Cesc Fabregas (CM)
The Spaniard might have been frozen out of the first-team picture in the Premier League but he is still one of the best deep-lying creative midfielders in the top flight.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (LCM)
He finally seems to have come into his own as he followed up a hat-trick in the Europa League with another goal in the Premier League and Sarri should definitely hand him a start.
Mateo Kovacic (RCM)
He did not start against Burnley and Sarri is expected to field him alongside Fabregas and Loftus-Cheek in midfield.
Willian (LW)
Eden Hazard and Pedro are both sidelined due to injuries and it will be difficult for Sarri to give the Brazilian a break.
Victor Moses (RW)
He is not one of the first names on the teamsheet under Maurizio Sarri but is definitely in contention to start in the Carabao Cup.
Read More:- Food for thought – Maurizio Sarri must use this midfield ace as a supporting striker for Chelsea
Alvaro Morata (ST)
The Spaniard put in a much-improved performance against Burnley and Sarri should allow him to grow in confidence.
