Mauricio Pochettino gives three debuts and Reece James captains: Chelsea predicted XI vs Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Chelsea begin their Premier League season tomorrow with a mouth-watering home clash against Liverpool.

The Blues and the Reds have built up quite the rivalry in the 21st century, but Sunday’s fixture now has even more spice to it due to the off-field transfer battling between the two clubs this week.

We’ve heard so much speculation in the past couple of days regarding Chelsea and Liverpool trying to sign Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, respectively.

We’ll wait to see where these two defensive midfielders end up playing their football this season. The current sets of players will have full focus ahead of the weekend’s league match at Stamford Bridge, though.

The Chelsea Chronicle has predicted the starting line-up Mauricio Pochettino will select for his first official game as the Blues head coach. This includes three first-team competitive debuts in Chelsea colours for Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill and Nicolas Jackson.

GK and defence

We think Robert Sanchez, who only joined Chelsea from Brighton earlier this month, could be thrown straight into line-up as the starting goalkeeper. This is because journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed on Twitter today that Chelsea’s first-choice Kepa Arrizabalaga is on the verge of joining Real Madrid.

It’s a predicted back four in front of the new goalkeeper that may become quite familiar this season.

Chelsea’s newly-appointed captain Reece James and Ben Chilwell are the likely full-back pairing.

As for the heart of defence, Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill could be the centre-back partnership. For Colwill, it would be a well deserved first-team debut for the Blues.

Midfield

It’s clear Chelsea are still working away to strengthen the midfield positions, but it could still be a fairly exciting combination against Liverpool

We’re predicting Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher to start as midfield pivot.

Carney Chukwuemeka could get the nod in the creative No 10 position due to Christopher Nkunku’s injury layout.

Attack

Our predicted line-up is wrapped up with the pace of Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk on the wings. Both attackers go into the new season with a point to prove.

Finally, summer signing Nicolas Jackson could make his competitive debut at striker after dazzling in pre-season.

Chelsea predicted line-up

Sanchez
James Silva Colwill Chilwell
Gallagher Fernandez
Sterling Chukwuemeka Mudryk
Jackson