Chelsea host Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge this weekend in their 35th game of the Premier League season.
The Blues are drawing close towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, which has been a really disappointing one for the squad and supporters to endure.
Chelsea’s stars are now playing for pride and their futures because a mid-table finish looks inevitable regardless of the final four matches of the season.
The Chelsea Chronicle has predicted the Blues line-up caretaker manager Frank Lampard will select on Saturday afternoon against Forest.
We think there will be three changes from the team that won 3-1 away at Bournemouth last week.
GK and defence
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the number one goalkeeper right now and will continue in-between the sticks. Will that still be the case next season, though?
We predict two changes in the Chelsea back four. However, Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile could continue as the starting centre-back partnership.
The first switch could see Cesar Azpilicueta replace Trevoh Chalobah at right-back.
Elsewhere, the Blues will be forced to replace Ben Chilwell at left-back, who suffered a season-ending injury last weekend against Bournemouth. Therefore, we are tipping Lampard to make the decision to promote 18-year-old youngster Lewis Hall to the starting XI.
Journalist Simon Phillips shared on his Substack that Chelsea blocked England from calling up Hall for the Under-20s World Cup. Surely, the versatile Blues youngster is in Lampard’s plans to play these next few league games.
Midfield
We’ve backed Lampard to go with the same midfield trio that worked against Bournemouth.
That means Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante and Conor Gallagher could get another start together.
Attack
Noni Madueke will surely keep his spot on the right wing. His performances in the past couple of games has lifted the mood and given some serious encouragement for his future.
Elsewhere, we can’t see anyone else other than Kai Havertz leading the line again.
The third and final change could see £50million (BBC) attacker Raheem Sterling replace Mykhailo Mudryk on the left wing.
Chelsea predicted line-up against Nottingham Forest
Kepa
Azpilicueta Silva Badiashile Hall
Kante Fernandez Gallagher
Madueke Havertz Sterling
IN: Cesar Azpilicueta, Lewis Hall, Raheem Sterling
OUT: Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Mykhailo Mudryk